AliousFormer Aston Villa CEO Keith Wyness has defended the recent transfer of Omari Kellyman to Chelsea, describing the deal as “quite sensible” and “within the rules.”
Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness drew parallels between Kellyman’s move and Wayne Rooney’s transfer from Everton to Manchester United two decades ago.
Kellyman, an 18-year-old midfielder with limited senior experience, joined Chelsea for a reported £19 million on June 29.
This transfer, along with Ian Maatsen’s move from Chelsea to Villa, has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits, with some suggesting the clubs might be inflating fees to circumvent financial regulations.
However, Wyness, who has extensive experience in football administration, argues that such deals are not uncommon.
He points out that young talent often comes at a premium, citing Rooney’s £24 million (plus £4 million in add-ons) transfer to Manchester United when he was just 17.
Wyness contends that the valuation of Kellyman is reasonable in today’s market. He suggests that investing in promising youngsters for £10-20 million might be a more prudent strategy for Chelsea, given some of their expensive signings that haven’t panned out.
The former Villa executive maintains that these transactions fall within acceptable parameters, stating, “It’s very difficult to say that these deals are wrong. Young talent comes with a price, and anything under £20 million is still within the realms of possibility.”
Wyness concludes by characterizing the Kellyman deal as “very sensible business,” implying that such transfers are a normal part of the football ecosystem.
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