- Five of Aston Villa’s current player are entering the final two years of their contracts
- They are Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Youri Tielemans, and John McGinn
- Villa will need to discuss new term with each of them at some stage in the next year to maintain value and reward performances
Whilst this summer will be an important one for Aston Villa in terms of transfers, contract negotiations for key players will also be at the forefront, as five of them are entering the final two years of their deals.
In football, the two-year rule is the ultimate tipping point for sporting directors. Allowing key assets to tick down past June 2028 without an extension heavily dilutes their market value, however, in Villa’s case, these players will unlikely depart this summer.
According to reports from John Percy and Jacob Tanswell, Villa are already prioritising talks for new contracts with some of their core.
Here is a look at five stars who could be at the forefront of those discussions.
Ollie Watkins
The club’s undisputed talisman committed his long-term future back in October 2023, but his importance to his team means Villa must decide whether to cash in on him now or extend his terms. Given last season’s heroics, it seems logical to keep the Englishman at the club.
Turning 31 during the 2026/27 campaign, Watkins is entering the latter stages of his peak years. Securing another short-term extension protects Villa against elite suitors while guaranteeing that the spearhead of Emery’s attack remains settled.
Ezri Konsa
Deemed an absolute rock, the England international is a mandatory starter and crucial cog in Unai Emery’s side. He oozes class and has established himself as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.
Villa are reportedly set to discuss new terms with Konsa after June 30th, the end of the financial year. There remains no doubt that he should continue to be at the heart of Villa’s defence for the next couple of years at least.
Pau Torres
The elegant Spanish centre-back remains fundamental to Villa’s sophisticated build-up play from the back line. His unique profile has naturally attracted admiring glances from continental heavyweight clubs, including transfer rumours in the last few months.
Torres is known to be deeply committed to Emery’s long-term project in the Midlands, but the recruitment team will want to extend his terms early to reflect how highly they value his importance.
Youri Tielemans
Signed on a highly lucrative free transfer from Leicester City in 2023, the Belgian midfield maestro has completely evolved into Emery’s on-pitch general and tactical anchor. When he’s at his best, he is one of the most influential and dangerous midfielders in the league.
Villa have prioritised pinning Tielemans down to an extension past 2028 to secure inner-squad stability. Tying him down is a no-brainer.
John McGinn
The club captain remains the undisputed emotional heartbeat and on-pitch engine of Unai Emery’s side. Having arrived in 2018, the Scottish international has navigated the entire modern journey of the club from the Championship to the Champions League.
Despite only signing a new deal last November, his impact during the most recent campaign showcased his immense value to the team. Villa look lost without him when he’s injured, meaning it would be silly not to extend his stay.
However, there are probably only two scenarios that play out from now until the end of his career, as there is no risk of him leaving Villa Park anytime soon. McGinn will either finish his career at Villa, or by the time he’s around 35-years-old, he might leave for Celtic and compete for another two seasons before retiring.
UEFA Squad Cost Rules (SCR) problem
The primary complication surrounding these contract extensions is Villa’s delicate position regarding UEFA’s Squad Cost Rules (SCR).
The rules stipulate that a club’s total expenditure on player and coach wages, transfers (amortisation), and agent fees must not exceed 70% of their total revenue.
When the club sits down to renew terms with these established stars, they inevitably face the reality of offering improved salaries. Rewarding these players for their performances means increasing the club’s wage bill.
If Villa inflates their payroll without a matching spike in commercial revenue or player sales, they risk increasing their SCR percentage above what it currently sits at. Their existing UEFA settlement agreement, following a previous SCR breach, means they cannot risk another violation.
Therefore, every single pay rise handed out this summer must be meticulously balanced against potential squad departures to prevent severe UEFA sanctions.
