Credit: Imago

Richie Mills

Wed 21 January 2026 19:10, UK

Aston Villa could continue to make further transfers, such as teenage forward Brian Madjo, amid a backdrop of financial uncertainty.

As Villa vie for the Premier League title this season, Unai Emery’s side needs to strengthen the squad to keep them in the hunt until May.

So far in January, Villa have signed Gremio winger Alysson, and they paid around £10.5million to recruit teenage Metz forward Madjo.

Amid this impressive season, though, the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules remain a cause for concern for Villa.

That is especially if Emery’s side bids for Barcelona attacker Ferran Torres, with a more secure transfer plan having been laid out to the Villa Park side.

Finance expert sends transfer message to Aston Villa

Villa have looked into signing former Manchester City star Torres for years, but appear no closer to securing his signature.

Although he would undoubtedly bolster Villa’s attack, which is fronted by striker Ollie Watkins, Emery’s side have been warned off a £52m move for Torres.

Instead, football finance expert Dan Plumley states that signings such as the 17-year-old Madjo will keep Villa’s PSR warnings at bay.

When asked if transfers such as Madjo were not going to make much of a difference to Villa’s PSR situation, Plumley exclusively told Villa News: “Definitely. When you look at the conversion on that, it is €12m, so it’s £10.5m at a decent exchange rate.

“So it’s only going to be sort of about £2m per year onto your amortisation cost on a five-year contract. It’s definitely the opposite of the Ferran Torres example.”

• Read more: Ex-Aston Villa scout baffled by missed Marc Guehi opportunity after transfer numbers he’s seen

Aston Villa’s change of strategy to reap serious rewards?

This month, Villa are trying to sign Besiktas loanee Tammy Abraham after allowing Roma to recruit Donyell Malen.

And while they are two players in their mid to late 20s, the Madjo signing could be a change in Villa’s transfer strategy.

Plumley added: “Maybe it’s a sign for Villa or a changing direction that they are looking now to some more, maybe younger talent and getting those players in at a lower cost.

“We don’t know where the ceiling is on some of these players. That player in three to four years might become a £30m, £40m transfer.

“So getting in early and getting hold of some talent for low value doesn’t hamper your squad cost ratio too much moving forward, but does provide you with an opportunity to realise some of that talent.

“From the outside looking in and looking at the numbers and obviously knowing what’s happening with Villa, with UEFA, that to me seems like a more sensible transfer at this point than the Ferran Torres example.”

There is no guarantee this approach will bear fruit, however. For instance, the vast majority of academy players fail to make the first-team grade, hence why transfer deals can be such a tricky business.

Stay up to date this winter with our Aston Villa transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at Villa Park, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.