One of the shocks of Aston Villa’s summer transfer window was the sale of Omari Kellyman, but what did Unai Emery think of his departure?
After the highs of the 2023/24 campaign, not many would have anticipated that Aston Villa would part ways with Douglas Luiz.
The Brazilian was one of Unai Emery’s key players last season however, his exit hasn’t been the biggest shock of the window.
Last month, Villa also bid farewell to academy ace Omari Kellyman, who was purchased by Chelsea for a staggering £19m, a transfer that proved to be crucial to end Villa’s PSR woes.
- READ MORE: Omari Kellyman pens ‘special’ message to Aston Villa fans after £19m Chelsea transfer confirmed
What Unai Emery thought about Omari Kellyman leaving Aston Villa for Chelsea
Selling Kellyman for such a high fee was a stroke of brilliance by Monchi, who offloaded the teenager for a profit of over £18m.
The 18-year-old arrived at Villa Park from Derby County in 2022 for a fee of around £600,000, telling of how well Villa did to secure such a price from the Blues this summer.
While Kellyman’s role in Emery’s squad was extremely sporadic, there was some belief that the teenager would soon get a chance under the Spaniard, making his departure disappointing.
Speaking on the 1874 podcast, journalist Jacob Tanswell gave an insight into what Emery’s expectations of the academy jewel could have been prior to his sale.
“The transfer that got Villa over the line was Omari Kellyman, he was a player that there was a real doubt that he would even go.
“People were saying he’s definitely going to stay, he’s going to go to the US with Emery, going to try and hit the ground running, wanted him to stay around the first team and get more games next season.
“Chelsea liked Kellyman and reluctantly, Emery and the board had to sanction that, that was the only real disappointment.”
Kellyman sale was both impressive and disappointing
Leaving Villa with 35 Premier League minutes under his belt for £19m was remarkable however, beyond the financial benefits, it was a shame for Villa to lose the talent.
Emery handed Kellyman both his Premier League and European senior debut for Villa, hinting at how highly the Spaniard rated the youngster.
The impressive teen could have been the next big thing to come from Bodymoor Heath although, Villa’s financial pressures meant that ultimately, their hands were tied as the lucrative offer came in.
There will be hope that Kellyman can continue his progression at Stamford Bridge after fleeing the nest prematurely in B6.
