Unai Emery has insisted that there are no "good relations" between Chelsea and Aston Villa after a series of transfers between the clubs
On Sunday Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez joined Chelsea from Villa, completing the eighth deal between them in the past four years. Martinez's move to Chelsea comes after Nicolas Jackson's transfer the other way last week.
No two Premier League clubs have exchanged more players, on permanent or loan deals, in the past four years. But Villa boss Emery said the relationship between the two clubs is "only through the deals for money".
"Good relations? They want to kill us and we want to kill them! We have good players and we can sign one player off them, it's not a good relationship - it's a deal for money and a deal for players. I am happy for Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers and I know I am not happy for Chelsea" he said.
A series of deals betwen the clubs began after Chelsea's owners, BlueCo, took control of the club in 2022 and signed Carney Chukwuemeka from Villa for £20m that summer. Ian Maatsen (£37.5m, to Villa), Omari Kellyman (£19m, to Chelsea) and Axel Disasi (a £5m loan deal, to Villa) subsequently moved between the clubs.
This summer alone has brought four more deals. Morgan Rogers completed a £117m move Chelsea, while Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on loan with a conditional obligation to buy in a deal worth around £43m. Jackson then moved to Villa for £65m, before Martinez followed.
Since 2022, Chelsea have paid Aston Villa £163.5m for players. Villa have spent £102.5m on Chelsea players including Axel Disasi's loan fee. That figure could rise to £150.5m should certain criteria be met to make Garnacho's loan move permanent. Chelsea believe the terms are easily reachable.