Boubacar Kamara will wear the No.8 shirt for Aston Villa from the beginning of the 2026/27 season.
The France midfielder has switched from No.44, which he had worn throughout his first four seasons at Villa Park.
Villa’s official announcement confirmed that the number became available following Youri Tielemans’ move to Manchester United.
Tielemans had worn No.8 since joining Villa on a free transfer from Leicester City in the summer of 2023.
Kamara arrived from Marseille one year earlier and selected No.44 for his first campaign in English football. He has since established himself as one of Unai Emery’s most important midfielders.
Kamara takes greater responsibility at Villa
The change gives Kamara a number traditionally associated with a central midfield role and reflects his senior position within Emery’s squad.
He is expected to carry greater responsibility next season following Tielemans’ departure and the serious knee injury suffered by Amadou Onana at the World Cup.
Kamara’s ability to protect the defence, recover possession and progress the ball has made him a central part of Villa’s system when fit.
The 26-year-old has endured several injury setbacks during his time in the Midlands, but he remains under contract until 2027.
Tielemans’ departure leaves Villa needing to reshape their midfield before the new Premier League campaign. As Read Aston Villa reported when Manchester United opened advanced talks, losing the Belgium international created another significant decision for Emery during an already busy summer.
Kamara will now begin the season wearing No.8 as Villa prepare for their opening league fixture and another European campaign.
