Aston Villa are racing against the clock to finalize the sales of Leander Dendoncker, Louie Barry, and Kaine Kesler-Hayden before the June 30, 2025, financial accounts deadline, according to Football Insider. The Premier League club, under pressure to adhere to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), have informed the trio they can seek new clubs as part of a broader squad clearout. With Emiliano Martinez also in talks to join Atletico Madrid, Villa are engineering multiple exits to ease financial concerns while maintaining their competitive edge in the 2025-26 season and Champions League qualifiers.
The Players Involved
Leander Dendoncker: The 29-year-old Belgian midfielder, signed from Wolves in 2022 for £13 million, has struggled for game time at Villa Park. Last season, he was loaned to his boyhood club Anderlecht, making 20 appearances in the Belgian Pro League. With his contract set to expire in June 2026, Dendoncker is deemed surplus to requirements by manager Unai Emery, and Football Insider reports he is “unwanted” at Villa. His potential transfer fee could be modest, estimated at £2-5 million, with Anderlecht and other European clubs like Trabzonspor showing interest, per Birmingham Mail.
Louie Barry: The 21-year-old forward, a product of Villa’s academy, has shone on loan in the EFL. In the first half of the 2024-25 season, Barry scored 15 goals in 23 League One games for Southend United, earning a recall in January 2025. He was then sent to Barnsley, where he suffered a season-ending knee injury, limiting his impact to 3 goals in 6 games, as noted by Birmingham Live. Barry’s contract runs until June 2028, and as a homegrown talent, his sale would count as pure profit under PSR rules. Football Insider revealed in January 2025 that Celtic were eyeing a move, and interest could resurface, with a potential fee of £3-5 million speculated by The Sun.
Kaine Kesler-Hayden: The 22-year-old right-back has been a regular on loan, with his latest stint at Preston North End in 2024-25 seeing him make 38 appearances and contribute 4 assists in the Championship. Having had five EFL loans during his Villa career, Kesler-Hayden has yet to break into the first team, with Matty Cash and Ezri Konsa preferred at right-back. His contract details are unspecified, but as a homegrown player, his sale would also generate pure profit. Clubs like Preston and Hull City are interested, with a £2-4 million fee mooted, per Football League World.
Villa’s Financial Strategy
Aston Villa’s urgency to sell by June 30, 2025, stems from the need to comply with PSR, which has already seen clubs like Everton and Leicester penalized. Football Insider reports that the sales of Barry and Kesler-Hayden, as academy graduates, would provide pure profit, significantly easing PSR concerns. The potential exit of Emiliano Martinez, valued at £35-40 million, to Atletico Madrid or Saudi Pro League clubs, as per Sky Sports, could further bolster Villa’s finances.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Aston Villa’s plan to sell Leander Dendoncker, Louie Barry, and Kaine Kesler-Hayden by June 30, as reported by Football Insider, reflects their urgency to meet PSR requirements. With Emiliano Martinez also in talks to join Atletico Madrid, Villa are navigating a critical period to balance their books while maintaining competitiveness. The sales of homegrown talents Barry and Kesler-Hayden would provide pure profit, but the loss of Martinez and fringe players could test Unai Emery’s squad. As the PSR deadline looms, Villa fans will be watching anxiously to see which deals cross the line, shaping the club’s ambitions for the 2025-26 season.
