(Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media)

Richie Mills

Sat 4 April 2026 12:00, UK

Aston Villa‘s £38.4million spend on agent fees over the past year raises big questions about the quality of their starting XI.

It was revealed that Premier League clubs have paid agents £460m between February 2025 and February 2026, covering payments (transfers and contracts) made by clubs to intermediaries involving a player, coach, or club.

Chelsea dished out a whopping £65m in agent fees in that period, while Villa came in second with £38.4m. In that time, the Blues have seen big-money deals being completed, both in and out of the club.

But the same cannot really be said for Unai Emery‘s team, which has not seen a great turnover of players in the past year or so.

The fact that Villa and NSWE have paid agents so much, despite not really strengthening their starting line-up, is something of a headscratcher.

Big agent fees but Aston Villa’s side flatlines

In the past two transfer windows, Villa haven’t really moved the needle when it comes to strengthening their strongest starting XI.

Evann Guessand was by far and away their biggest outlay, but he was shipped out on loan to Crystal Palace in January, while Jadon Sancho was signed on loan, and Victor Lindelof joined on a free transfer.

The likes of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio had lucrative loan spells at Villa Park in the second half of last season, but other than that, it is hard to think where the big money was spent.

Certainly, in comparison to the likes of Arsenal (£32m) and Liverpool (£33.8m), who spent hundreds of millions on players last summer, Villa’s sum is eye-opening.

Indeed, even Manchester City and Manchester United, who splashed the cash this season, spent less on agent fees at £37m and 32m, respectively.

In January 2025, Emi Buendia and Leon Bailey were deemed not good enough for the first team, as the former headed out on loan to Bayer Leverkusen and the latter fell out of favour.

Now, both are getting regular game time, highlighting how Villa’s starting XI has not kicked on in the way many fans would want.

That may be on billionaire owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens. It also highlights what a great job Emery has done as they try to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Aston Villa announce revenue increase

Villa have been trying not to fall afoul of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules for some time now.

That has led to big-money sales for the likes of Moussa Diaby and Jhon Duran to ease their financial difficulties.

Getting to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season also bolstered their coffers, something that cannot be said this term as they are in the Europa League.

Their figures are likely to look a lot less rosy next season, due to not being in the UCL, and these numbers may suggest why Villa spent so little in the past transfer windows.

Another financial boost is likely to have come from Villa selling their women’s team to V Sports, the holding company that owns the club.