Aston Villa wants Emerson Royal back in the Premier League, and they’re willing to pay exactly what Flamengo did to get him. The Birmingham club submitted a €9 million offer to the Brazilian giants on June 23, 2026, for the 27-year-old right-back, in what amounts to a straightforward cost-recovery deal from Flamengo’s perspective.

The offer, worth approximately £7.8 million, matches the fee Flamengo originally paid AC Milan for Royal in July 2025. In other words, Villa is essentially asking Flamengo to break even on a player they’ve held for less than a year.

Why Flamengo hasn’t said yes yet

Flamengo hasn’t accepted the bid. The Rio club rates Royal highly and considers him a genuine squad asset, not a surplus commodity to be moved at the first reasonable offer.

Flamengo’s financial picture is more complicated than their reluctance suggests. The club recently sold forward Ryan Roberto to Shakhtar Donetsk for €10 million, a move that points to an organization actively managing its books rather than simply strengthening its squad.

Royal joined Flamengo on July 27, 2025, signing a contract that runs through December 2028. That’s a long runway, which gives Flamengo leverage to hold firm.

What Emerson Royal brings to Villa Park

Royal logged over 100 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur before his move to AC Milan, giving him a credible résumé in English football. He knows the tempo, the physicality, and the tactical demands of the division. For a club operating in European competition like Villa, having a right-back who can rotate without dropping the performance level significantly is a practical necessity.