Villarreal have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Portuguese defender Renato Veiga in what will be the most expensive transfer in the Spanish club’s history.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed the deal on his official X account, writing:
“Villarreal agree deal to sign Renato Veiga on permanent move from Chelsea, here we go! Agreement with player and also with Chelsea on €29.5m package add-ons included and also heavy sell-on clause. Record transfer for Villarreal after exclusive story last week.”

Softfootball understands that the agreement, worth an initial €24.5 million (£21m) plus €5 million (£4.3m) in add-ons, also includes a significant sell-on clause that could benefit Chelsea in the future. Villarreal’s outlay surpasses the €23.5m they paid for Arnaut Danjuma in 2021, and having made the first move to get him, it underlines just how highly they rate the 22-year-old defender.
Veiga only joined Chelsea from Basel in 2024 for €14m, but after making just one Premier League start, he spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus. The Serie A side paid a €5m loan fee, and Veiga went on to feature 15 times, helping them secure Champions League qualification.
Despite his versatility, capable of operating as a left-back, centre-back or even defensive midfielder — Veiga never fully nailed down a place at Stamford Bridge. He made 18 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice, but was not included in Chelsea’s Club World Cup squad this summer.

The move is seen as a financial boost for Chelsea, who are under pressure to balance their books after a heavy period of spending, while Villarreal secure a rising Portuguese international at the heart of their defence.
The Lisbon-born defender broke into Roberto Martínez’s Portugal side earlier this year and already has five senior caps. His stock has risen quickly, with Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich among the clubs that had tracked him before Villarreal won the race.
For Villarreal, the deal represents a clear statement of ambition as they look to rebuild and strengthen their backline. For Veiga, it marks another step in a fast-moving career and the chance to play a central role in La Liga rather than remain on the fringes in west London.