Aston Villa have already undergone major change this summer, but the most important decisions may still be ahead.
The Aston Villa transfer window must leave Unai Emery with enough quality to compete in the Premier League and Champions League after losing several influential players.
Villa enter the new season from a position of strength after winning the Europa League and qualifying for another Champions League campaign. UEFA confirms Aston Villa’s 2026/27 Champions League place
However, Emery’s squad looks very different.
Morgan Rogers has joined Chelsea for £117million, while Youri Tielemans moved to Manchester United. Amadou Onana is also expected to miss much of the season after undergoing surgery on an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
Villa have responded by signing Johan Manzambi and João Gomes. Yet the club’s own recruitment work cannot stop there.
The latest arrivals, exits and targets can be followed through the ReadAstonVilla transfer news hub.
Aston Villa transfer window still needs another midfielder
Central midfield remains one of the clearest areas for Roberto Olabe and Emery to address.
Gomes brings Premier League experience, defensive intensity and excellent ball-winning ability. Manzambi offers more freedom when carrying possession and attacking space.
Neither completely replaces what Villa have lost.
Tielemans dictated the tempo and could progress possession from deeper positions. Onana gave Emery physical power, height and defensive security.
ReadAstonVilla’s complete guide to Villa’s summer signings, departures and targets outlines how significantly that midfield has changed.
Another established midfielder would reduce the pressure on Boubacar Kamara and Gomes. João Palhinha is among the players Villa have considered, while James Garner has also attracted interest.
Emery needs enough depth to rotate without dramatically weakening the centre of his team.
Replacing Morgan Rogers may define Villa’s summer
The biggest challenge is replacing Rogers.
Villa received an exceptional fee, but his importance went well beyond his goals and assists. He could carry possession through pressure, attack from the left and move centrally behind Ollie Watkins.
Few players offer all of those qualities.
Alejandro Garnacho adds direct running and one-against-one threat, but Villa should not expect one player to reproduce everything Rogers provided.
The club have also pursued Palmeiras attacker Allan. His versatility fits the profile Villa require, although Palmeiras have rejected the opening €30m package.
Villa need another forward who can create rather than simply finish attacks. Without one, Emery risks entering the campaign with greater midfield depth but less unpredictability in the final third.
Defensive recruitment could also become necessary. Any further senior departure at centre-back or full-back would leave Villa short during a season containing Champions League football.
Financial restrictions cannot be ignored
Villa have money from their major sales, but that does not mean they can simply spend every pound received.
UEFA confirmed that Villa exceeded the permitted 70 per cent squad-cost ratio during the 2025 calendar year. The club received a €22.5m fine, with €15m conditional, and restrictions on registering new players for European competition. UEFA’s official Aston Villa financial ruling
UEFA’s regulations require clubs to keep their squad-cost ratio at or below 70 per cent.
That makes deal structure particularly important.
Olabe cannot simply chase the biggest names available. Wages, amortisation, potential resale value and European registration all need consideration.
Loans with options, younger players and carefully structured payments could therefore remain important during August.
Villa have already generated significant income through departures, but selling another valuable player purely to create spending room would introduce another problem for Emery to solve.
The aim should be improving the squad rather than continuing an endless cycle of replacing starters.
Villa are preparing for Champions League football as Europa League holders. Their ambitions have changed considerably since Emery arrived.
The remaining weeks of the Aston Villa transfer window must reflect that progress. Another midfielder, greater attacking creativity and enough defensive cover would leave Villa better equipped to compete on both fronts.
Get those decisions right and the summer rebuild can move Villa forward again. Get them wrong and the departures of Rogers, Tielemans and the injured Onana could be felt throughout the season.
