Aston Villa’s summer 2026 transfer business is almost done. This tracker was updated on 17 September 2026, and it records every senior departure sanctioned by Unai Emery. Six exits are confirmed, a seventh is close to completion, and the shape of Emery’s squad for the new campaign is now clear.
Summer 2026 transfer update: Unai Emery’s squad re-shape
Emery has kept trimming his senior squad this window. This follows the approach he set out in our piece on Emery’s ruthless squad refresh back in March. Several fringe players have been moved on, and the fees help strengthen Villa’s transfer budget.
Six deals are already finalised. They cover two permanent sales agreed after loan spells, a domestic move for an academy graduate, and a release clause triggered by a Premier League rival. A seventh departure is still in progress: Lucas Digne’s exit to Paris Saint-Germain is waiting on a formal clause activation after the World Cup.
Confirmed permanent player sales and departures
Donyell Malen has completed a permanent transfer to Roma worth £21.6million. It converts an initial loan spell into a full sale. The Netherlands forward had spent time on loan at the Italian club before the move was made permanent this summer.
Enzo Barrenechea’s loan-to-buy move to Benfica is also finalised. The Portuguese club paid £10.3million to make the midfielder’s switch permanent. Lewis Dobbin has agreed a £9million transfer to Southampton, with a medical booked to confirm the deal.
Louie Barry has left Villa for Sheffield Wednesday for an undisclosed fee. No transfer fee has been made public for the young forward’s move to the Championship club.
Key loan agreements and release clause activations
Manchester United have triggered Youri Tielemans’s £35million release clause. The Belgian midfielder underwent a medical at Old Trafford as part of the move. This takes one of Villa’s most experienced midfield options out of Emery’s plans for the new season.
Lucas Digne has a verbal agreement to rejoin Paris Saint-Germain once his release clause is formally activated after the World Cup. The move is not yet complete, and Villa’s official position remains that no clause has been triggered.
These midfield and defensive exits follow a period of significant rebuilding at Villa Park. Our report on how the club rebuilt Villa’s midfield spine covers this transfer window in more detail.
Which players have left Aston Villa in summer 2026?
Six senior departures are confirmed so far: Donyell Malen (Roma, £21.6million), Enzo Barrenechea (Benfica, £10.3million), Lewis Dobbin (Southampton, £9million, medical booked), Louie Barry (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed fee) and Youri Tielemans (Manchester United, £35million release clause). A seventh, Lucas Digne, is expected to follow once Paris Saint-Germain formally activate his release clause.
| Player | Destination | Fee/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Donyell Malen | Roma | £21.6million, permanent |
| Enzo Barrenechea | Benfica | £10.3million, loan-to-buy completed |
| Lewis Dobbin | Southampton | £9million, medical booked |
| Louie Barry | Sheffield Wednesday | Undisclosed fee |
| Youri Tielemans | Manchester United | £35million release clause triggered |
| Lucas Digne | Paris Saint-Germain | Verbal agreement, pending clause activation |
What happens next for Aston Villa’s squad
Villa’s squad planning now turns to managing the fallout from these exits, alongside one injury concern. Amadou Onana suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup. It is a blow to Emery’s midfield depth, regardless of any further departures.
Supporters should expect confirmation of Digne’s move to Paris Saint-Germain once his release clause is formally activated. That will close out the seventh senior departure of the window. Until then, Villa’s business stands at six completed deals worth more than £75million combined.
Our original summer 2026 departure report carries the earlier detail on these deals as they were first agreed. This page will keep being updated as Digne’s situation is resolved.
