Aston Villa narrowly avoided a serious Premier League penalty this summer, coming close to a significant points deduction due to financial regulations. As the end of the financial year approached, the club faced a £25 million deficit that needed urgent addressing. The solution came in the form of selling one of their top players.
Douglas Luiz was sold to Juventus for £42 million just before the critical June 30 deadline. This last-minute deal was crucial in preventing a potential ten-point deduction, which could have severely impacted the team’s season. The sale was managed under intense pressure by the club’s football operations team, including Sporting Director Monchi and Director of Football Operations Damian Vidagany.
Vidagany described the urgency: “As the season ended, we realized we had to sell players to stay within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules. Normally, from May 20 to June 30 is a quieter period in football, but for us, it was anything but that.”
The challenge was to choose which player to sell without compromising the team’s performance. Options included Ezri Konsa, Leon Bailey, and Luiz. Ultimately, Luiz was selected for the sale, a decision that was not taken lightly. Monchi mentioned other potential candidates like Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez were also considered, but the decision to sell Luiz was deemed the best solution.
The process of finalizing Luiz’s move was complex and involved significant last-minute negotiations. Vidagany and Monchi traveled to Italy to secure a preliminary agreement with Juventus while Luiz was in the United States for the Copa America. The final signing was completed under tight constraints and involved multiple parties and logistical challenges.
Vidagany acknowledged the pressure and the strategic maneuvering required: “The final days were incredibly stressful. We faced enormous pressure and had to manage interactions with several agents and involved parties to ensure the deal was completed.”
Ultimately, this strategic sale allowed Aston Villa to avoid the severe financial penalty and maintain their competitive standing for the upcoming season.