Aston Villa set for welcome payday as £10.4m sale to go through imminently away from Villa Park
Aston Villa are on the verge of securing a significant payday following a fresh development away from Villa Park.
The Villans struggled with their PSR standing throughout the summer transfer window, and it could be an issue that continues to plague them this winter if it isn’t addressed.
Monchi’s departure has placed further scrutiny on Aston Villa’s transfer business, but they could now be about to receive a substantial amount without doing anything.
Unai Emery will be keen to strengthen his side further in the January window, and with that in mind, this development away from the club is certainly welcome news for the boss.
Enzo Barrenechea one game away from triggering £10.4m Benfica move
Enzo Barrenechea left Aston Villa during the summer transfer window, as he joined Benfica on an initial loan deal.
The Argentine has never properly settled during his time in B6, and has failed to make a competitive appearance for the club since joining in July 2024.
- Barrenechea joined Villa in July 2024 as part of a double signing with Samuel Iling-Junior
- He spent last season on loan with Valencia, where he made 30 La Liga appearances
- Barrenechea now looks set to depart Villa without playing a single competitive game
The agreement with Benfica included an obligation to buy the midfielder after he featured in 15 games for the Portuguese giants, and he is now on the verge of triggering that clause.
Barrenechea has quickly become a regular for the Eagles, having started seven of their eight league games so far this term, and it now feels inevitable that he will join them permanently in the near future.
The 24-year-old played his 14th game for his loan club against Porto on Sunday, and he will earn Villa a further £10.4million on his next outing, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.
Benfica already paid a fee of around £2.6m to sign him on loan, and when the permanent signing goes through, the total package will rise to around £13m, which is certainly a welcome bonus for the Villans.
When will Aston Villa get Enzo Barrenechea payday?
Villa’s sale of Barrenechea is now clearly a matter of when rather than if, but they will have to wait another couple of weeks at least before the money comes their way.
Benfica’s next outing after the international break comes in the cup, when they take on second tier outfit Chaves, which is a game where first-team players like Barrenechea may be left out by boss Jose Mourinho.
Failing that, the former Juventus man is likely to start in the Champions League clash away at Newcastle on 21 October, meaning the deal will surely go through within the next three weeks, if not before.
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