Villa-Chelsea transfer links are about business, not friendship: Emery

Aston Villa do not share a special relationship with Chelsea despite several transfers ​between the clubs in recent years, manager ‌Unai Emery said on Sunday, describing the deals as purely business transactions.

The clubs have agreed eight permanent or loan ​deals over the past four years, more ​than any other two Premier League teams.

"Good relations? ⁠They want to kill us and we want ​to kill them," Emery told reporters on Sunday.

"It's ​not a good relationship, it's a deal for money and a deal for players. I am happy for Emiliano Martinez ​and Morgan Rogers and I know I am ​not happy for Chelsea."

The flow of transfers began after the ‌consortium BlueCo took control of Chelsea in 2022.

England midfielder Rogers joined Chelsea in a reported £117m ($158mi) move, and Alejandro Garnacho was loaned to Villa with a conditional ​obligation for ​the transfer to ⁠become permanent next year.

Striker Nicolas Jackson then joined Villa, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez completed his ​switch to Stamford Bridge.

British media reported that ​Chelsea ⁠have spent more than £160m on Villa players since 2022, while Villa have paid around £102m for ⁠players ​moving in the other direction.

Villa ​host champions Arsenal in the Premier League on Monday.