Chelsea agree transfer deal to sell forgotten defender after just 12 months

Chelsea have reached an agreement to sell Renato Veiga to Villarreal, according to reports.

Veiga joined Chelsea on a seven-year contract from FC Basel just 12 months ago, for a fee thought to be in the region of £12million.

But the versatile defender failed to secure regular playing time under Enzo Maresca and was sent on loan to Serie A giants Juventus in January, where he went on to make 15 appearances in all competitions.

Though Veiga did his reputation no harm with a string of assured displays at the heart of Juve’s defence, he returned to Stamford Bridge from Turin with his immediate future up in the air earlier this summer.

The Blues made it clear they would be unable to guarantee the 22-year-old a regular starting role for the 2025/26 campaign, prompting his camp to begin sounding out potential suitors around Europe.

Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan have all been credited with an interest, but Villarreal have asserted themselves as the overwhelming favourites to land the Portugal international – who is comfortable operating at both centre-back and in central midfield.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Villarreal’s discussions have advanced at a pace in recent days and the La Liga outfit have now struck a deal with both Veiga’s camp and Chelsea over a €29.5million (£25.5m) package, including add-ons.

It’s claimed the deal will include a ‘heavy’ sell-on clause, with Chelsea set to retain a significant percentage of any future transfer fee should the player be sold on again.

The move would see Veiga become Villarreal’s club-record signing, surpassing Arnaut Danjuma’s €23.5m (£20.4m) switch from Bournemouth four years ago.

There had still been six years remaining on Veiga’s contract at Stamford Bridge, which he signed upon arrival from Basel.

Veiga was left out of Chelsea’s first-team squad for their Club World Cup campaign and it was clear the Portuguese was not a part of Maresca’s plans for the season.

There was no place for Veiga on the substitutes bench as Chelsea were held to a goalless draw in their opening match of the Premier League season with Crystal Palace.

It was only last October that Maresca singled Veiga out for special praise after handing the defender a rare start in Chelsea’s Europa Conference League defeat of Panathinaikos.

‘I just said to Renato, he has played already as a centre-back, a full-back, holding midfielder, attacking midfielder,’ Maresca told reporters at the time.

‘He has already played four or five positions. One of my first press conferences, I said that the reason why I really like and love Chelsea is because many players can be versatile.

‘Today, in my idea, if they can play different positions, then it is better for the team and especially for the players. Today, if you just play one position, I don’t think it’s enough.

‘You need to learn more positions. Renato, Malo [Gusto], they are playing in different positions and they are doing well.’

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