‘They Want to Kill Us’: Emery Draws the Line on Aston Villa-Chelsea Transfer Relationship

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has dismissed suggestions that the Premier League club enjoys a close relationship with Chelsea, insisting that the increasingly busy transfer traffic between the two sides is driven by business rather than friendship.

Emery made the remarks after Emiliano Martínez completed his £7.5 million move from Aston Villa to Chelsea, becoming the eighth player to move between the clubs on a permanent or loan basis over the past four years. The latest deal came shortly after Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson moved to Villa, while Chelsea had earlier secured Morgan Rogers from Villa in a reported £117 million transfer.

Asked about the apparent relationship between the two clubs, Emery was blunt: “Good relations? They want to kill us and we want to kill them!” He explained that the connection was essentially transactional, describing it as a relationship built around money and player transfers rather than goodwill between the clubs.

The Spaniard also singled out the departures of Martínez and Rogers, saying Chelsea’s acquisition of key Villa players was ultimately aimed at strengthening their own team at Villa’s expense. “They are signing Morgan, they are signing Emiliano Martínez to kill us,” Emery said, while making clear that his personal feelings towards the players were different.

“I am happy for Emiliano Martínez, I am happy for Morgan Rogers,” Emery said, while adding that he was naturally not happy with Chelsea benefiting from their departures.

The transfer relationship between Villa and Chelsea has become unusually prominent since BlueCo’s takeover of Chelsea in 2022. British media estimates cited by Reuters indicate that Chelsea have spent more than £160 millionacquiring Villa players during that period, while Villa have spent roughly £102 million on players coming from Stamford Bridge.

The exchanges have included Carney Chukwuemeka and Omari Kellyman moving from Villa to Chelsea, while Villa subsequently signed Ian Maatsen permanently and Axel Disasi on loan from Chelsea. This summer’s dealings have further intensified the connection, with Jackson joining Villa and Martínez and Rogers heading in the opposite direction.

For Emery, however, the frequency of the transactions should not be mistaken for cooperation between sporting rivals. With both clubs competing for Premier League success and European ambitions, the Villa boss views every transfer through the prism of competition.