- Aston Villa will likely reward Emi Buendía with a new contract this summer
- This follows his stellar season, even though the club allowed him to leave at the beginning of the current campaign
- His current terms expire in June 2027
Emi Buendía has played a big role in Aston Villa’s success this season, with his performances likely to be rewarded with a new contract this summer. Despite Unai Emery wishing for a squad overhaul in the transfer window, the Argentinian international looks to be remaining at the club.
Just twelve months ago, Buendía’s future in Birmingham looked highly uncertain. Having suffered a devastating ACL injury that sidelined him for the entire 2023/24 campaign, he struggled to find consistent minutes upon his return.
He spent the latter half of last season on a quiet loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen, and the club was reportedly open to a permanent sale. Leeds United and VfB Stuttgart also showed interest.
However, Buendía remained fiercely determined to prove his worth to Unai Emery. He turned down all exit routes, trusting his work ethic and believing he could still play a pivotal role for the team.
That perseverance was rewarded in the ultimate fashion. Across the season, he has grown into an important player and made some crucial contributions in what is now a successful season for Villa. He has scored eleven goals and provided nine assists in 53 appearances in all competitions.
More recently, the No 10 put in a masterclass of a performance in the Europa League final in Istanbul against SC Freiburg, scoring a brilliant goal and setting up Morgan Rogers to seal the trophy. Walking away with the Man of the Match award on the continent’s biggest stage firmly cemented his status back into the heart of the club’s long-term plans.
Securing the future
The Villa hierarchy has placed contract negotiations for core squad members high on their agenda, making tying down Buendía a top priority. John Percy from The Telegraph has reported that the club will also offer Ezri Konsa and Youri Tielemans new contracts this summer alongside Buendía.
Villa are preparing for an expansive transfer window to consistently challenge Europe’s elite. Emery clearly has eyes on securing some of the core for the future, whilst also looking to bring in new talent.
Buendía, who originally joined Villa from Norwich City for £38 million, which was the club-record fee at the time, has openly expressed his deep emotional attachment to the club. Reflecting on his journey, the creative midfielder admitted he had faced very low moments during his recovery from injury, but felt vindicated by his recent success.
Speaking after the Europa League win, he said: “I’ve had some very bad moments, I’ve been very low; injuries, finding myself in a difficult momentum to play more often, but I kept believing in myself all the time.
“I always trusted my work ethic, and also I always thought I could be important for this club and team. Today I have to enjoy it.”
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By extending Buendía’s contract, Emery ensures he retains a highly creative component capable of operating both out wide and as a traditional No 10. His tactical flexibility and high-pressing work rate have been a valuable part of Emery’s system.
As the club continues to celebrate their Europa League trophy, the recruitment team will start to ramp up their summer plans behind the scenes. Securing Buendía’s peak years signals that Villa are not just looking to revamp their attack, but are committed to preserving the heroes who brought them back to European glory.
