Aston Villa’s most expensive summer transfer signings ever – including £33m hero and £52m one-season wonder
Aston Villa’s Big-Money Buys: How the Villans Have Evolved Through Smart Spending
Aston Villa have undergone a striking transformation in recent years, morphing from a club battling for mid-table respectability to one consistently knocking on the door of European competition. Just a few seasons ago, the West Midlands side was languishing in the lower half of the Premier League table. Today, under the guidance of Unai Emery, they’ve re-emerged as a revitalized force — ambitious, progressive, and quietly building something special.
Unlike some clubs that have surged forward due to blockbuster financial injections or wild spending sprees, Villa’s rise has been a more calculated and sustainable one. The club hasn’t gone on £300 million summer shopping binges or attracted sugar-daddy funding. Instead, Villa’s approach has been methodical: prudent spending over multiple windows, building squad depth and quality incrementally, and, crucially, securing the services of an elite manager in Emery back in 2022 — a move that may prove to be the most important signing of all.
As the 2024 summer transfer window gains momentum and Villa prepare for another campaign packed with domestic and European fixtures, it’s a fitting time to look back at some of the club’s most expensive signings in recent history. These players not only reflect Villa’s financial ambition but also show how carefully the club have navigated the modern transfer market. Some moves have paid off handsomely; others not so much. Let’s revisit five of the most significant and expensive buys in Villa’s Premier League era and assess how well they’ve stood the test of time.
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5. Ollie Watkins – £33m (2020)
One of the most impactful signings of Aston Villa’s new era, Ollie Watkins was recruited from Brentford in the summer of 2020 for a club-record fee at the time — a deal potentially rising to £33 million with performance-based add-ons. It was a bold move, considering Watkins had no Premier League experience and was arriving from the Championship. Yet, it’s one that has aged beautifully.
Watkins made an immediate impression, announcing himself in spectacular fashion by scoring a perfect hat-trick against reigning champions Liverpool in a historic 7-2 win. Since then, the Exeter City academy graduate has become a cornerstone of Villa’s attack. He has consistently hit double figures in goals every season and reached new heights in the 2023/24 campaign, scoring 19 Premier League goals and adding eight more in the UEFA Europa Conference League. His contributions helped Villa clinch a top-four finish and make it to the semi-finals of a European competition — a landmark achievement in the club’s modern history.
At 29, Watkins remains in his prime, and with Emery at the helm, there’s every chance he’ll continue to be the driving force of Villa’s frontline in years to come. His signing, once viewed as a gamble, now looks like a masterstroke.
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4. Ian Maatsen – £37.5m (2024)
The summer of 2024 saw Villa dip into the market again, this time snapping up Dutch full-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea in a deal worth £37.5 million. At just 22 years old, Maatsen had only recently enjoyed a high-profile loan stint at Borussia Dortmund, where he played in the UEFA Champions League final. His signing represented both ambition and a bet on potential.
The deal raised some eyebrows, particularly due to whispers that it was part of a financially strategic swap under the shadow of Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). In the same window, Villa offloaded promising youngster Omari Kellyman to Chelsea in a £19m deal, despite the midfielder having just two senior appearances. These back-to-back moves prompted speculation about inflated valuations.
On the pitch, Maatsen’s debut season was a mixed bag. He started just 10 Premier League games but showed flashes of his attacking instincts and technical quality, scoring once in a 3-1 win over Newcastle United. While he didn’t immediately lock down a starting berth, there’s belief that under Emery’s developmental eye, Maatsen could blossom into a key figure in Villa’s long-term plans.
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3. Emiliano Buendía – £38m (2021)
Before Emery arrived, Emiliano Buendía was brought in by Dean Smith in 2021 as a marquee signing. Fresh off a dazzling season with Norwich City in the Championship, the Argentine playmaker commanded a fee of around £38 million — another record at the time.
Buendía’s Premier League track record was limited, and though Villa were optimistic following the success of Watkins from the same club, the move has unfortunately not panned out as hoped. His debut seasons were inconsistent. Despite his obvious talent, Buendía struggled to cement his place in the starting XI and never truly lit up Villa Park the way the club envisioned. Injuries further curtailed his momentum, with a serious ACL injury ruling him out for the entire 2023/24 season.
When he returned, Villa’s midfield had evolved, and there was no clear role for him in Emery’s system. A January loan move to Bayer Leverkusen followed, where he performed respectably with two goals in 14 appearances. Whether he features in Villa’s future plans remains to be seen, but barring a remarkable turnaround, Buendía may be remembered as a talented but ultimately underwhelming signing.
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2. Amadou Onana – £50m (2024)
In what was one of the most anticipated signings of the 2024 summer window, Villa broke the £50 million mark to land Amadou Onana from Everton. At 23, the powerful Belgian midfielder is already a seasoned international with over 20 caps, and he brought with him a reputation for physicality, ball-winning, and progressive passing.
Under Sean Dyche at Everton, Onana had grown disillusioned and appeared to stagnate. But since arriving at Villa Park, he’s looked revitalized. Onana scored five goals in his debut campaign — a personal best — and brought steel and authority to Villa’s midfield, offering the ideal blend of aggression and composure.
His high-profile presence at Euro 2024 — where he featured in every match for Belgium — only added to his growing stature. He even went viral for correcting a journalist who confused him with Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana: “That’s not even my name, mate.” That quip captured his sharp wit and growing confidence.
Fans believe that Onana could become a true pillar of the team under Emery. If he continues this trajectory, the £50m fee could be seen as a bargain in hindsight.
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1. Moussa Diaby – £51.9m (2023)
Topping Villa’s all-time transfer records is Moussa Diaby, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 for a fee nearing £52 million. The French winger arrived with much fanfare, bringing Champions League pedigree, electric pace, and a previous connection with Emery from their PSG days.
Diaby’s first season saw Villa accomplish their goal of Champions League qualification, and his stats were solid: 10 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. He was particularly effective in the early months of the campaign, often providing the cutting edge in tight matches.
However, his influence waned after the winter break, and despite his talent, he never seemed fully integrated into Emery’s system. By the following summer, the decision was made to move him on — and Saudi side Al-Ittihad came calling. Villa recouped most of their investment, receiving a fee in the region of €60 million.
Though Diaby’s stint at Villa was brief, it played its part in a memorable season. But ultimately, it seems the club and the player were not the perfect fit.
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Final Thoughts
Aston Villa’s transfer history in the modern era showcases a club that’s willing to spend big — but carefully. Their signings haven’t always hit the mark, but their overall recruitment strategy has allowed them to steadily rise the ranks of English and European football.
With Unai Emery at the helm, smart financial planning, and an evolving scouting structure, Villa fans have every reason to be optimistic. If the current trajectory continues, the next big-money signing might just take them from contenders to genuine title challengers.