Ranking Aston Villa’s most expensive departures in their history, from Ashley Young to Jack Grealish.
Villa have made some serious money on their departures over the years. Multiple players have left Villa Park seeking greener pastures and, as a result, helped the club make a lot of money.
Jack Grealish was the most prominent of these after he departed for Man City back in 2021.
Since Unai Emery joined the club he has been able to sell multiple players in his squad for a decent sum of money.
With the list ever-changing, Aston Villa News has ranked the club’s current record departures.
10) Ashley Young – £17 million
Joining Villa from Watford in 2007, Young quickly became a vital player in his first spell at the club.
In his four and a half years, the winger helped to consistently qualify the club for Europe and saw his side reach a League Cup Final.
Man United then swooped in for the England international, purchasing Young for around £17 million.
9) Cameron Archer – £18 million
A player who made few appearances for Villa before his departure. Archer, came through the Villa academy, making his debut at just 17 years of age.
Following this, the striker was sent on three different loan spells, including one at Middlesbrough in 2023 where he scored 11 goals in 22 games.
As a result, Sheffield United brought the striker at the start of the 2023/24 season for a reported £18 million.
8) Omari Kellyman – £19 million
Youngster Omari Kellyman was highly rated at Villa as he progressed through the ranks.
However, the Villa Park faithful will not see how the attacking midfielder blossoms at their club after he moved to Chelsea in June 2024. Kellyman signed for the capital club for £19 million.
7) Carney Chukwuemeka – £20 million
Another player to come through the Villa academy. Chukwuemeka made his debut at the end of the 2020/21 season in a 2-1 victory over Spurs.
The attacker’s appearances then picked up in the following campaign, featuring 14 times for the club.
Chelsea then purchased Chukwuemeka for around £20 million at the start of the 2022/23 season.
6) Stewart Downing – £20 million
The winger joined the club in 2009 from Middlesbrough and spent two seasons at Villa.
Downing was also part of Young’s squad that oversaw a Champions League push in the 2009/10 season.
After seeing success in both these years, and netting eight goals in the 2010/11 campaign, Liverpool brought Downing to Merseyside for around £20 million.
5) James Milner – £26 million
After a successful loan spell in the 2005/06 campaign, Milner eventually rejoined the club in 2008.
Overseeing just over two seasons at the club in his second spell, the midfielder was vital to Villa and scored the opening goal in the 2010 League Cup Final.
Man City eventually came in for Milner at the start of the 2010/11 campaign and he moved to the Citizens for £26 million, which included Stephen Ireland coming the other way.
4) Christian Benteke – £32.5 million
Benteke was a vital player for Villa in the mid-2010s. After the club tumbled down the Premier League table, they found themselves in a constant battle for survival.
The striker’s goals helped keep Villa in the top-flight for each of the three seasons he was at the club. This saw him find the net 49 times in 101 games in all competitions.
Liverpool then met the Belgian’s release clause which saw him depart in 2015 for £32.5 million.
3) Douglas Luiz – £42.5 million
Over his spell at Villa Park, Douglas Luiz had become a fan favourite at the club. The midfielder joined the club upon their promotion to the Premier League and instantly showed his talent.
As the years progressed, Luiz only got better and soon helped the club climb up the table. After reaching Europe in the 2022/23 campaign, the midfielder helped the club follow this up with Champions League qualification the following season.
However, in June 2024, his Villa career came to an end. Luiz joined Juventus for £42.5 million, ending his five-year spell.
2) Moussa Diaby – £52 million
Moussa Diaby’s spell at Villa was a short one. The Frenchman joined the club for a record fee back in July 2023.
After a semi-successful first year, Villa cashed in. An offer was accepted from Al-Ittihad for £52 million and he moved in July 2024.
1) Jack Grealish – £100 million
By far Villa’s most expensive departure. Grealish came through the academy as a local lad, making his debut in the 2013/14 campaign.
Upon Villa’s relegation from the Premier League, the winger spent the next three seasons in the Championship attempting to return them to the top flight.
He was eventually successful in the 2018/19 campaign and helped to keep the Birmingham side in the Premier League in his last two seasons.
At the start of the 2021/22 campaign, he then moved to Man City for £100 million, the most expensive transfer of an English player ever and the seventh highest of all-time.
