Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has criticized financial regulations for hindering the club’s transfer activity. Villa had to sell players and rely on loan signings due to financial fair play rules. Konsa believes that financial restrictions impacted the club’s ability to strengthen the squad and is hopeful that new signings will improve the team’s fortunes after a slow start to the season.
Aston Villa's summer transfer activity was significantly curtailed by financial regulations, according to defender Ezri Konsa. The club had to navigate stringent financial fair play (FFP) rules, impacting their ability to strengthen the squad as much as manager Unai Emery would have liked. Konsa voiced his concerns about the situation, stating that the financial constraints had “killed” the club's ambitions in the transfer market.
Villa's major permanent signing was striker Evann Guessand from Nice for £26 million, with a potential £4.3 million in add-ons. However, to balance the books, they sold academy product Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United for £40 million. The club then brought in Harvey Elliott from Liverpool and Jadon Sancho from Manchester United on loan, plus free agent Victor Lindelof, just before the transfer deadline, moves which, while welcome, underscored the financial realities facing the club.
Image source, Getty ImagesKonsa was sent off in Villa's opening game of the 2025-26 season against Newcastle United
Aston Villa faced a fine from UEFA in July for violating financial regulations. The club risked being unable to register new players for the Europa League season if they did not achieve a positive transfer balance by the end of the summer window. Furthermore, Villa, like other Premier League teams, must adhere to the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which allow a maximum loss of £105 million over a three-year cycle.
Konsa, currently on international duty with England, didn't hold back his views. "It is crazy. I don't understand it myself, but from the outside looking in, it doesn't look too good. I know that. I know it's really killed us this transfer window," he admitted. The defender's frank assessment highlights the frustration within the club about the impact of these financial constraints.
Last season, Aston Villa narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification, finishing sixth in the Premier League, just behind Newcastle United on goal difference. According to FootballTransfers.com, Villa's net spend was among the lowest in the league this summer, with an outlay of £57.5 million and recouping £47 million, resulting in a surplus of £10.5 million.
Looking ahead, Konsa emphasized the need to focus on the current squad. "We're going to have to deal with what we've got now," he stated. He confessed that he deliberately avoided following transfer deadline day developments closely, knowing the club's limitations. "I knew that signing players was going to be difficult for us, so I did not look at transfer deadline day," he explained.
However, he did check Villa's social media later in the evening and was pleased to see the arrival of three new players with Premier League experience. "Around eight o'clock, I went on Villa's social media to see what happened. I saw that we signed three players, who are really good and have Premier League experience. I think that's what we needed as well."
Aston Villa have had a slow start to the current season, securing only one point from their first three games – a goalless draw against Newcastle. Konsa remains optimistic that the team can turn things around after the international break. "We've a great squad, I believe in our squad. I believe in our manager," he affirmed. "Hopefully, the boys who have come in can really help us and push us on."