Aston Villa are set to bid farewell to another player, with reports confirming that Diego Carlos is close to completing a move to Fenerbahce. After selling Jaden Philogene to Ipswich Town earlier this month, the Villans are now finalizing a deal to offload the £100,000-a-week defender, as per Fabrizio Romano.
Carlos is reportedly heading to Turkey for €10 million (£8.4 million), marking the end of a turbulent two-year spell at Villa Park. Signed for £26 million, the Brazilian centre-back leaves the club at a financial loss, with his time in Birmingham marred by injuries.
A Frustrating Spell at Villa
Diego Carlos arrived with high expectations but was hit by misfortune almost immediately. A serious ACL injury in his first home game at Villa Park set the tone for his tenure, keeping him sidelined for much of his time at the club. This disrupted his ability to settle into the team, especially under Unai Emery, who succeeded Steven Gerrard and transformed Villa’s fortunes.
Though Carlos was hampered by injuries, he managed to make an impression during his limited appearances. He earned praise from journalist Mat Kendrick, who described his performances as “solid” and noted his “physically imposing” style of play. Despite flashes of his quality, the 30-year-old struggled to carve out a significant role in Emery’s evolving side.
Villa’s Transfer Strategy
Carlos’ departure aligns with Aston Villa’s strategic approach to the January transfer window. With Unai Emery overseeing reinforcements such as Donyell Malen and Andrés García, Villa have prioritized a sell-to-buy policy to maintain financial sustainability.
After narrowly avoiding profit and sustainability charges last summer, the Midlands club are treading carefully to steer clear of potential financial trouble. Selling Carlos and Philogene helps fund Villa’s push for key signings, including rumored targets Loic Bade and others.
While fans may look back at Carlos’ time at Villa with a sense of “what might have been,” the club appears focused on strengthening the squad for a consistent top-four push. As the January window progresses, Emery’s calculated moves could prove crucial in shaping the remainder of Villa’s season.