 Having qualified for the play-offs and beating Middlesbrough in the semi-final they ultimately lost 1–0 to Fulham in the 2018 EFL Championship play-off Final at Wembley Stadium.Following the play-off final financial problems began to emerge with Xia struggling to move money out of China to maintain basic football operations.In July 2018 Aston Villa were taken over by Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens with a 55% controlling stake.