Alejandro Garnacho Faces Tough Times at Aston Villa with Possible Exit in Sight

Alejandro Garnacho has had a disappointing start since joining Aston Villa on loan from Chelsea. The Argentine winger moved to Villa Park this summer, with the deal including an obligation to buy for £43 million if certain conditions are met. Despite these terms being described as 'easily achievable', Garnacho has barely featured.

So far, he has only appeared three times in the Premier League, totaling just 31 minutes on the pitch. For the last four matches across all competitions, he has been left on the bench, struggling to secure playing time.

Parallels with Harvey Elliott’s Villa Experience

This situation mirrors what happened with Harvey Elliott in 2025, who joined Villa under a similar arrangement but played only nine games. Back then, manager Unai Emery was reluctant to trigger a permanent transfer, effectively sidelining Elliott.

"The problem we have with Harvey is that this year he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him. We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to sign him," Emery said last January.

While Emery hasn't made such blunt statements about Garnacho, the message is clear: the winger ranks low in the pecking order. He recently advised Garnacho to keep working hard and be patient.

“Continue working. Work, work, train, work,” Emery stated when asked what Garnacho must do to regain a spot. “He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now.”

Emery highlighted how George Hemmings, Alysson, and Ibrahim Mbaye have all outperformed Garnacho so far this season.

Potential January Move Could Revive Garnacho's Career

If his playing time does not improve, Garnacho might look for a fresh start elsewhere. Reports from the Daily Mail suggest several La Liga clubs are watching the 22-year-old closely ahead of the January transfer window.

This could provide Garnacho with a chance to leave Aston Villa and find more regular minutes. Returning to Spain could be a homecoming of sorts, considering he was born in Madrid and spent part of his youth career at Atletico Madrid before moving to Manchester United at 16.

During the current international break, Aston Villa is training in Seville while many players represent their countries. Garnacho, whose last appearance for Argentina was in 2024, may use this time to impress Emery before the Premier League resumes on October 10.