Aston Villa have signed João Gomes as star Morgan Rogers completes a British record move to Chelsea

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers celebrates winning the UEFA Europa League. | Photo credit: Reuters

Aston Villa signed Brazilian midfielder João Gomes on Monday (20 July 2026), investing some of the money the Europa League winners are set to receive from the record sale of England’s Morgan Rogers to Chelsea.

Villa did not disclose the transfer fee they paid to now-relegated Wolverhampton for 25-year-old Gomes, which was reported to be £35 million ($47 million).

Gomes comes days after signing Johan Manzambi for a club-record fee of more than £50m ($67m) from Freiburg following a stellar World Cup with Switzerland.

Gomes has played 10 times for Brazil, although not under current coach Carlo Ancelotti. His last appearance was in a World Cup qualifier in March last year, where Argentina won 4-1.

Also on Monday, Villa star Rogers completed a £117 million ($157.4 million) move to Chelsea after returning from the World Cup with England.

Villa manager Unai Emery will lead his side into the Premier League and Champions League campaigns with big changes in midfield.

Youri Tielemans has left to join Manchester United in a reported £35m ($47m) transfer and his Belgium team-mate Amadou Onana will be out for several months after tearing his ACL in the 4-1 World Cup win over the United States.

US-backed Villa’s profit from transfer deals will help meet financial monitoring rules after being fined by UEFA for consecutive years.

UEFA imposed financial penalties of 7.5 million euros ($8.6 million) last month and 11 million euros ($12.6 million) a year ago.

Villa were set to earn about 40 million euros ($45.7 million) in UEFA rewards for winning the Europa League and can look forward to double that from their Champions League games starting in September.

The club will also lose revenue next season with the closure of one end of Villa Park during building works that will increase the capacity above 50,000 ahead of hosting matches at the 2028 European Championship.

Published – 21 Jul 2026 02:33 IST