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EXCLUSIVE: Jean-Philippe Mateta agrees Aston Villa terms as Chelsea make contact
Steve Kay
- Updated: 21 Jan 2026 16:07 GMT
- 4 min read
Exclusive
FootballTransfers understands that wantaway Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has already agreed personal terms with Aston Villa, while Chelsea have made contact with the player's camp.
The Frenchman has informed Crystal Palace of his desire to depart the club before the January window shuts. While there is no guarantee that the Selhurst Park outfit will grant him his wish, they are fielding interest from a host of European clubs.
Juventus had a loan bid rejected and have moved on to different targets. This has emboldened Aston Villa to act on their interest in Mateta and to hold talks with both the player and Crystal Palace.
Current ETV
Jean-Philippe Mateta
F (C)
C. Palace
Jean-Philippe Mateta
F (C)
C. Palace
ETV Range
€34.1M - €41.7M
We are told that personal terms are not an issue with the 28-year-old, who is determined to join a club that is either playing in the Champions League right now or expected to qualify for Europe's premier competition this season.
He believes that this gives him the best chance of making France's World Cup squad, which he admitted in October is his sole focus for this current campaign. With Palace's form dipping and having lost captain Marc Guehi, Mateta feels that staying would jeopardise his World Cup hopes.
Chelsea also in contact with Mateta
Intriguingly, we are told that Chelsea have also been in touch with Mateta's representatives. The Blues want to be kept abreast of the situation, although whether they will actually enter the race for him is unclear at present.
Palace are demanding between €35 million and €40m for their star striker. Despite it being a sizeable price tag for a player who will be 29 next season, discussions have already been held with numerous European suitors this month, not just Juventus, Aston Villa and Chelsea.
Mateta has turned down a new Palace contract that would have seen him earn £80,000 per week until 2030. His current terms expire in 2027, creating a significant dilemma for his club.
Palace don't want to budge from their valuation, but forcing a player who evidently doesn't want to be there to stay is bound to create problems. It would also significantly weaken their negotiating position in the summer.
The best-case scenario for the Eagles is that a bidding war starts, which would allow them to extract maximum value from Mateta's exit - an exit that is starting to feel increasingly inevitable.
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