Aston Villa Defender Konsa Says Financial Rules Kill Summer Transfers

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa has criticized the Premier League's financial restrictions, saying they "killed" the club's transfer business this summer. Villa were forced to sell academy product Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United for £40 million to comply with UEFA and Premier League financial regulations, including the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which limit losses over a three-year period. Their only major permanent signing was striker Evann Guessand, with late deadline-day loans of Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho, along with free agent Victor Lindelof, to bolster the squad. These financial constraints contributed to a poor start for Villa, who have yet to score a goal this season and have only one point from three games. Konsa and others at the club have expressed frustration and confusion over the rules, which also led to a UEFA fine and the threat of registration bans for new players in European competition. Despite the challenges, Konsa remains hopeful that the new recruits will help the team improve after the international break.