Private Blog Network – Chelsea have reached an agreement to sell Portuguese defender Renato Veiga to Villarreal for a fee rising to £26 million. The 22-year-old is set to sign a seven-year contract with the Spanish club after completing his medical on Thursday. The deal comes close to matching Villarreal’s transfer record and reflects their confidence in Veiga’s potential.
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Veiga arrived at Chelsea from FC Basel in 2024 for £12 million and made 18 appearances for the club. During his time in London, he also had a short loan spell with Juventus. However, his Chelsea future became uncertain after he requested a positional switch from left-back to centre-back last season. This led to his placement in the ‘bomb squad,’ a group of senior players separated from first-team training.
Under new head coach Enzo Maresca, Veiga was deemed surplus to requirements despite his youth and international experience with Portugal. Atletico Madrid had also shown interest earlier in the window, but Villarreal moved decisively to secure his signature. The Spanish club sees Veiga as a key piece in rebuilding their defence for the upcoming La Liga campaign.
Chelsea will make a significant profit from the sale, nearly doubling their investment in just over a year. The move also adds to the club’s wider transfer strategy this summer, focused on offloading players to streamline the squad and raise funds for new arrivals.
Chelsea’s Summer Sales Exceed £250 Million as Rebuild Continues
Veiga’s transfer brings Chelsea’s total summer player sales to an estimated £251.7 million from the departures of 11 players. This follows a highly active transfer window for the Blues, who have spent around £277 million on nine new signings under manager Enzo Maresca.
Among the biggest sales, Noni Madueke joined Arsenal for an initial £48 million, while Joao Felix moved to Al-Nassr in a deal potentially worth £43.7 million. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also left for Everton in a £28 million transfer. These moves highlight Chelsea’s approach to balancing the books while reshaping the squad with a younger profile.
Despite the outgoings, Chelsea remain active in the market. The club is targeting Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho and RB Leipzig midfielder Xavi Simons before the window closes on 1 September. Further exits are also expected, with several high-profile players available for transfer.
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Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, and Axel Disasi are among those Chelsea are willing to offload. These potential sales could raise additional funds and help the club remain compliant with Financial Fair Play regulations.
As the transfer deadline nears, Chelsea’s strategy reflects both short-term restructuring and long-term planning. The sale of Veiga is just one part of a broader effort to refine the squad, reduce wage commitments, and prepare for a competitive campaign under new leadership.