Aston Villa’s most expensive sale of all time

Aston Villa are on the rise under Unai Emery, NSWE backs the manager in the transfer market. However, the club have also acquired a number of Villa Park stars over the years – but who holds the record for the club’s departure?

Here is a detailed look at the most expensive Villa sales in their history, with an in-depth look at the top 10.

Here’s a detailed look at Aston Villa’s top selling…

10

Jaden Philogene

£20m to Ipswich, 2025

Jaden Philogene swapped Villa Park for Portman Road in January 2025, looking to help keep Ipswich Town in the Premier League.

The Villa academy graduate had loan spells at Stoke City, Cardiff City, and Hull City in the Championship before joining the club.

9

Carney Chukwuemeka

£20m to Chelsea, 2022

Young midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka starred for a short time in Aston Villa’s first team after joining the academy.

Chukwuemeka’s form has caught the eye of Chelsea, who have added the midfielder to their growing list of young signings in 2022 for £20m. However, he has already been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge.

8

Stewart Downing

£20m to Liverpool, 2011

Stewart Downing was Martin O’Neill’s first signing in the 2009 transfer window and his time at Aston Villa was short and sweet. After two seasons, Liverpool and Kenny Dalglish took Downing to Anfield and the left-back will stay for two years with the Reds.

The Anfield club spent an estimated £20 million to bring the England international to Merseyside, although the amount remains undisclosed.

7

James Milner

£26m to Man City, 2010

Premier League icon James Milner originally joined Aston Villa on loan in 2005 as part of Newcastle’s deal to re-sign Nolberto Solano.

Milner would go on to impress at Villa Park and signed permanently three years later in 2008, making a total of 126 appearances before signing for Man City in a £26m deal in 2010, from which he went on to have a successful career in the top flight.

6

Christian Benteke

£32.5m to Liverpool, 2015

Powerful striker Christian Benteke first made his mark in England with Aston Villa after arriving from Genk in 2012, and the Villans would make a big move for the Belgian three years later.

It was Liverpool who came calling again and paid an eye-watering £32.5m for the striker, although his move to Anfield fell through, and he was on the move again 12 months later.

5

Douglas Luiz

£42.35m to Juventus, 2024

Recently, central midfielder Douglas Luiz was sold by Aston Villa to Juventus in 2024 after spending five successful years with the club.

The transfer was reportedly worth €50m (£42.35m), and Villa soon took Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea to the Midlands. Amadou Onana has since become his successor at Villa Park.

4

Moussa Diaby

£50m to Al-Ittihad, 2024

Another big money move in 2024 to help balance FFP’s books was Moussa Diaby, who moved to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad for around £50m.

The Frenchman has only spent one campaign in England, but his displays were enough for Villa to break even with Bayer Leverkusen’s fee last year.

3

John Duran

£64m to Al-Nassr, 2025

Jhon Duran was going from strength to strength at Villa Park when the unexpected decision was made to sell the Colombian to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in January 2025.

The striker cost just £18m, so the £64m outlay represents a huge profit and the chance for Duran to go and play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo.

2

Jack Grealish

£100m to Man City, 2021

Before 2026, the most expensive sale of Aston Villa was Jack Grealish, who moved to Manchester City for £ 100m in 2021 was a British record at the time.

The attacking midfielder stood out for the claret and blue in the Championship and Premier League and left Villa after making over 200 appearances for his boyhood club. His most expensive deal between British clubs has since surpassed the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo.

1

Morgan Rogers

£117m to Chelsea, 2026

In the summer of 2026 Aston Villa had no real desire to sell their stablemate Morgan Rogers but when Chelsea arrived with a price of £117m, it was impossible to refuse.

Arsenal also wanted him but in the end they didn’t come up with the money. Rogers left Villa Park after winning the Europa League. He scored 31 goals in 125 games for the Midlands club, and produced 29 assists.