Arsenal transfer mistake saves Aston Villa millions

Aston Villa announced the signing of Calum Chambers from Arsenal last week and reports suggest it cost the club just £2million.

The 27-year-old signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Villa Park and the move was said to have come about by the fact that Chambers had entered the final six months of his Arsenal contract.

The versatile defender joins Philippe Coutinho, Lucas Digne, Kerr Smith and Robin Olsen in arriving at Villa this month, but his future at Arsenal could have played out very differently.

Arsenal held an option to extend Chambers’ contract until 2023 and triggering that would have enabled them to demand a significant fee for him.

The Athletic claim that never happened after the deadline for doing so passed in December, and the Gunners ended up parting with him for a much lower price this month.

A loan, which would have included a fee, until the end of the season would have been likely had the clause been triggered, but instead, Villa boss Steven Gerrard added a fourth centre-back to his squad following the loss of Axel Tuanzebe who joined Napoli on loan earlier this month after his third loan at Villa Park was cancelled.

Chambers will compete with Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa for a starting spot in Gerrard's first XI, while he can also provide much-needed cover cover for Matty Cash at right-back, Lucas Digne at left-back and even holding midfield too.

The former Southampton star left St Mary's for Arsenal in 2014 and spent time away from north London on two loan switch to Middlesbrough and Fulham in the past few years.