Aston Villa have paid €5m upfront for Alysson Edward, with the remaining €5m of the guaranteed fee set to arrive in instalments, according to reports in Brazil.
The structure forms part of the €10m fixed agreement reached between the clubs, with a further €2.5m linked to performance bonuses.
Brazilian journalist Eduardo Gabardo, from Zero Hora, explains that Grêmio received only half of the fixed fee immediately. The club will collect the rest over time, as agreed in negotiations with the Premier League side. Despite that, the deal is considered fully completed from Aston Villa’s perspective.
The payment model has practical effects in Brazil. Grêmio are using the outstanding instalments as collateral with local banks to secure short-term loans. These funds aim to cover overdue salaries, bonuses and other financial obligations before the end of the year.
Once the remaining payments from Aston Villa arrive, Grêmio plan to repay those loans, including interest. Internally, the expectation is to settle all pending issues by December, allowing the new board to focus on the next transfer window.
For Aston Villa, the arrangement reflects a common structure in South American deals. The club secured Alysson on a long-term contract while spreading part of the fixed cost. The winger now prepares to join Unai Emery’s squad as Villa continue to expand their recruitment footprint in South America.
