Premier League: an icon slams the door | OneFootball

Aston Villa’s Director of Football, Monchi, prepares to leave the club and the Premier League

Premier League: an icon slams the door

According to The Athletic, and confirmed by talkSPORT, Monchi, Aston Villa’s President of Football Operations, is on the verge of leaving the club. Having joined in 2023 from Sevilla after a stint at Roma, the Spanish executive was meant to be the cornerstone of Villa’s sporting overhaul, working alongside Unai Emery and Damian Vidagany. Yet, after just two years and five transfer windows, his journey is coming to an end amid disappointing results on the pitch and overwhelming financial constraints.

While Monchi pulled off some impressive moves in the market—such as bringing in Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby, and Nicolò Zaniolo (on loan)—his tenure was hamstrung by the strict rules imposed by the Premier League (Profit and Sustainability Rules) and UEFA (Squad Cost Regulations). These constraints forced Villa to sell nearly €285 million worth of players in two years, including Douglas Luiz, Tim Iroegbunam, and Omari Kellyman. At the same time, several key loans, like those of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio, couldn’t be converted into permanent transfers due to lack of funds. This situation frustrated Monchi and severely limited his room to maneuver.

Sporting-wise, the timing of this exit is alarming. Aston Villa currently sit 18th in the Premier League after five winless matches, and the club’s transfer business is under fire from supporters. Monchi, historically a close ally of Unai Emery from their shared triumphs in Seville, seems to have decided he could no longer drive the project forward under such limitations. His departure from Villa Park’s inner circle marks the urgent need for a major rethink in recruitment strategy. For Emery, now deprived of one of his closest confidants, the road ahead looks fraught with challenges as Villa must turn their season around to avoid a campaign in crisis.