Aston Villa Midfielder Set to Complete Summer Move to La Liga Side – Report | OneFootball

Enzo Barrenechea: The Aston Villa Loanee Making Waves at Valencia

Enzo Barrenechea’s move to Aston Villa last summer was not one that grabbed headlines. However, the young Argentine midfielder has quietly been making a name for himself at Valencia, where he has been a key figure in their La Liga campaign.

As reported by The Athletic, Barrenechea, 23, was a late addition to Villa’s summer transfer dealings with Juventus. While much of the focus was on Douglas Luiz’s departure to Serie A, Villa’s acquisition of Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior for a combined €22m (£18.5m) was seen as a strategic move for the future. As Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, put it, “Maybe we knew they wouldn’t be ready to play for us immediately but both are young, talented, sustainable salaries and in the next year, they’re going to be good assets.”

The early evidence suggests Barrenechea may well become just that. While Iling-Junior has yet to make a significant impact, Barrenechea has thrived in Spain, offering Valencia much-needed stability in midfield as they fight to avoid relegation.

Photo: IMAGO

Impact at Valencia

Barrenechea’s ability to slot seamlessly into Valencia’s midfield has not gone unnoticed. Having started 15 of the club’s last 18 league matches, he has demonstrated his adaptability and composure in high-pressure situations. His role under new head coach Carlos Corberan has been pivotal, as he operates as the deep-lying midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 system. As The Athletic notes, “Valencia now believe he is attuned… he has shown he can make third-man runs when the situation allows, which underlines his improved fitness.”

With over 1,400 minutes played in La Liga, Barrenechea’s performances have been described as “well above par” by Valencia-based journalist Paco Polit, who further observed, “He might not be the best player in the team in almost any single game, but in a team where most have been failing, he has never been responsible for bad results.” His ability to shield the defence and distribute the ball efficiently has provided much-needed balance to the team.

What This Means for Aston Villa

For Villa, Barrenechea’s development presents an interesting dilemma. While Unai Emery initially appeared open to integrating him into the squad, a congested midfield—bolstered by the £50m signing of Amadou Onana—meant the Argentine had to look elsewhere for game time. A move to Valencia was initially met with some hesitation at Villa Park, with the club changing their stance multiple times before finally sanctioning the loan.

The key question now is whether Barrenechea has done enough to warrant a place in Villa’s squad next season. With Financial Fair Play regulations in mind, Villa might view his rising stock as an opportunity to generate funds, particularly with Valencia keen to secure his services permanently.

That said, letting go of a player with his potential could be premature. His performances in Spain suggest he could be a long-term asset for Villa, either as a reliable squad player or even a future starter in Emery’s midfield. Given the unpredictability of Kamara’s injury history and the need for depth in a European campaign, keeping Barrenechea might be the smarter move.

Photo: IMAGO

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From an Aston Villa perspective, Barrenechea’s success in La Liga is both promising and frustrating. It’s clear the club identified his talent, yet he was never truly given a chance to prove himself at Villa Park. While Onana and Kamara are excellent midfielders, the depth in that position has been tested throughout the season, and Barrenechea could have provided a useful alternative.

There’s also the wider issue of Villa’s recent transfer strategy. While the club has done well to sign young players with potential resale value, there’s a risk of them developing elsewhere and being sold before making an impact in England. If Barrenechea continues to shine, Villa may have to make a difficult decision: integrate him into the squad or cash in while his stock is high.

For now, Valencia fans will be hoping they can convince Villa to part ways with him permanently. But if he returns to England, there’s every chance Barrenechea could be an important part of Villa’s midfield in the seasons to come.