Aston Villa enter the 2026-27 Premier League season with the memory of Europa League glory in Istanbul still vivid, but the squad that lifted the trophy has already undergone significant change. Guardian writers have tipped Villa to finish seventh this term, a drop from their fourth-place finish last season, as Unai Emery looks to prove the club has not yet peaked.
Three key figures from the Europa League final starting lineup have departed: Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne, with two of that trio having scored in the showpiece win. There is also uncertainty over the future of defender Ezri Konsa, who could leave if Arsenal follow through on reported interest. Villa have further lost influential backroom figures, including set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, assistant manager Pako Ayestarán and individual coach Antonio Rodríguez Saravia.
Despite the turnover, Emery remains at the helm and continues to drive the club's remarkable transformation. His summer has been characteristically demanding, featuring pre-season tours to Portugal, Indonesia and Hong Kong, a Super Cup meeting with Paris Saint-Germain in Salzburg, and a friendly in Mönchengladbach. The Spaniard, described by director of football operations Damian Vidagany as living "like a monk in a tracksuit," is known for spending up to 12 hours a day at Villa's Bodymoor Heath training base, often reviewing footage while exercising.
Villa stumbled through a difficult start last season before recovering to secure a top-four finish, but replicating that feat may prove harder this time. The absence of Rogers, who led the squad in minutes played, and the injury to Tielemans that coincided with a spring slump in form, exposed the squad's reliance on those players. New arrival João Gomes, signed from Wolves for £38m, arrives with strong defensive numbers, having ranked third in the league for tackles (107) and fourth for ball recoveries (194) last season. Young talent Johan Manzambi has also joined after Villa fought off rival interest to land him for a club-record £51m, while Chelsea loanee Alejandro Garnacho is another player Emery hopes to revive.
Since Emery's arrival three and a half years ago, only Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City have collected more Premier League points than Villa. The manager can still call upon experienced performers including Konsa, John McGinn, Matty Cash, Emiliano Martínez and Ollie Watkins, while the return of Boubacar Kamara from injury this month offers a boost.
Off the pitch, Villa have agreed a shirt sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda worth an estimated £20m per season, a partnership that has drawn criticism from Amnesty International over concerns about sportswashing. Meanwhile, Villa Park's redevelopment continues, with the North Stand closed for the season and capacity reduced to 37,000. The upgraded stand, featuring a steel roof and modern facade, is expected to boost capacity beyond 50,000 in time for the 2027-28 season and Euro 2028.
There is optimism surrounding academy prospect Brian Madjo, a 17-year-old striker who scored four goals in pre-season after the Court of Arbitration for Sport cleared him to play following a dispute over his transfer from Metz. McGinn celebrated the ruling on social media with the message: "English player allowed to play in England #freemadjo."
The World Cup left its mark on Villa's squad. Amadou Onana suffered a serious knee injury playing for Belgium, while Manzambi's tournament ended early with a knee problem that delayed his Villa debut. Martínez reached another final with Argentina, and Konsa started every match for England until his introduction from the bench in the semi-final against Argentina was seen as a turning point that allowed Argentina back into the game.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.