**Aston Villa Linked with Chelsea Star Who ‘Is Going to Have a Remarkable Career’**
**BIRMINGHAM — June 13, 2025** — Aston Villa are reportedly exploring a summer move for a highly-rated Chelsea player amid growing speculation surrounding Unai Emery’s ambition to push the Midlands club into the Premier League’s elite. Sources close to the club suggest that Villa have expressed interest in securing the services of young Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka — a player many within Stamford Bridge believe “is going to have a remarkable career.”
Villa, who have qualified for the UEFA Champions League for the upcoming 2025/26 season, are looking to reinforce their squad with technically-gifted and tactically-versatile players who can thrive at the highest level of European competition. According to insiders familiar with the situation, Emery has personally highlighted Chukwuemeka as a target due to the player’s potential, creativity, and prior Premier League experience.
Chukwuemeka, 21, was once heralded as one of England’s brightest young prospects and made the switch from Aston Villa to Chelsea in 2022 for a reported £20 million fee. However, despite flashes of brilliance, his time at Stamford Bridge has been disrupted by recurring injuries and inconsistent game time under multiple managers. As Chelsea prepare for a squad rebuild under their new head coach, several players — especially those not deemed essential to the first-team project — could be allowed to leave either permanently or on loan.
Sources inside Villa Park believe a return to the Midlands could reinvigorate Chukwuemeka’s career, especially under the structured system of Unai Emery, who has a strong track record of developing young talents. Villa’s interest is believed to extend to both a loan deal with a potential buy option or a straight permanent transfer, depending on Chelsea’s demands.
A Chelsea academy figure recently told *The Athletic*:
> “Carney is one of those players who has everything in his locker — vision, composure, athleticism. He just needs a run of games. Whoever gives him that opportunity is going to witness the making of a remarkable career.”
Chukwuemeka’s performances at youth level, including starring roles for England U19s and U21s, have drawn comparisons to elite midfielders such as Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice in terms of ceiling and versatility. For Villa fans, the possibility of bringing back a homegrown talent who left under contentious circumstances could symbolize not just squad reinforcement, but also a measure of redemption.
Villa are not alone in their interest, however. Several Premier League clubs — including Brighton and Everton — have also been monitoring the player’s situation, while clubs in Germany and Italy are rumoured to be exploring loan options.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are facing pressure to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), meaning they may have to offload several academy products — which count as “pure profit” in financial accounting — before the end of the financial year on June 30. This situation could accelerate a potential Chukwuemeka exit if a suitable bid is placed in time.
From Villa’s perspective, their interest also reflects a larger ambition. The club, now backed by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens, has made clear its intention to establish itself as a mainstay in European competition. The arrivals of high-calibre players such as Pau Torres, Moussa Diaby, and Youri Tielemans in previous windows set a precedent that Villa are now looking to follow with younger, high-potential stars like Chukwuemeka.
As the summer window heats up, all eyes will be on Chelsea’s next move and whether Aston Villa can convince a once-departed starlet to return and fulfill the potential that once lit up Villa Park.
**Transfer status: Developing**
**Fee range: £25–30 million (est.)**
**Likelihood: Moderate to High, depending on Chelsea’s financial needs and squad planning**
Villa fans can only hope that a reunion with Chukwuemeka is on the cards — one that could mark a defining chapter in both the player’s rise and the club’s pursuit of footballing excellence.
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