Exclusive: Aston Villa face big financial threat, ‘unscripted’ issues on the cards
Aston Villa are still very much in the mix on three fronts this season, which leaves their fate wide open and supporters uncertain on whether it will be a successful year.
The Villans have been inconsistent in the Premier League and lie 10th, albeit just four points adrift of Chelsea in fifth, helped by the Champions League places awarded to England expected to stretch to five.
A tie against Club Brugge in the last 16 of the Champions League is favourable compared to other opponents on paper, but the Belgians have already beaten Aston Villa this season.
In the FA Cup, several big guns have already been eliminated which could swing the door open for quarter-finalists Villa, who take on the last remaining Championship side, Preston North End, at Deepdale in the last eight after knocking out Cardiff City last Friday (28 February).
Aston Villa wage commitment could fall apart
Aston Villa could face severe financial consequences if they do not achieve their ambitions this season of at the very least qualifying for some form of European competition, according to Ian Darke.
The TV commentator, speaking exclusively to Villa News, admits that while Emery’s men are “bang in” the race for the Champions League and could still qualify for Europe via one of three routes, their spending model heavily relies on sitting at the top table.
As revealed by the Deloitte Money League, the financial spread at Villa Park is such that a gargantuan 96 per cent of annual revenue in 2024 was spent on wages.
“They’re bang in it, and only a few points outside the top five. The model they’ve got going there dictates really that they’re playing European football and always contending at the top part of the table,” Darke said.
“So they definitely don’t want any unscheduled or unscripted elements to the end of their season. There’s the FA Cup as well, which can be a route into Europe – with some of the top clubs out, it’s a real chance.
“It could really affect their model if they’re not in Europe next season.”
Chris Heck, who oversees business operations at Villa Park, has faced criticism this season for “scalping” Aston Villa supporters including from Darke, when Champions League ticket prices were revealed.
Aston Villa and their spending
Aston Villa have certainly given it a right go since returning to the Premier League in recent years, and have reaped the rewards as Emery and an increasingly star-studded array of players reached the Champions League (European Cup) for the first time since the season after winning it in 1982.
However, their whopping 96 per cent revenue commitment to wages is a potential tightrope; by contrast, Tottenham spend just over 42 per cent of their income in this area, while it is 53 per cent for Arsenal and 63 per cent at Liverpool.
| Overall position | Deloitte Money League 2025 | Position among English clubs |
| 2 | Manchester City | 1 |
| 4 | Manchester United | 2 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 3 |
| 8 | Liverpool | 4 |
| 9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 5 |
| 10 | Chelsea | 6 |
| 15 | Newcastle United | 7 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 8 |
| 18 | Aston Villa | 9 |
The Villans raked in over £250million during the 2023-24 in total revenue, ranking them 18th in the most recent Money League.
The Champions League knockout phase begins for Aston Villa in Brugge early on Tuesday evening.