Emi Buendia has an opportunity to take on greater responsibility for Aston Villa following Morgan Rogers’ departure.
The Argentina midfielder was already one of Unai Emery’s most productive attacking players last season. His importance could grow further after Chelsea completed a British-record £117m move for Rogers, removing one of Villa’s main sources of creativity and ball progression.
Buendia does not need to become another Rogers
Replacing Rogers will not be the job of one player.
His ability to carry possession over distance and drive through midfield gave Villa a particular threat. Buendia plays differently, preferring shorter combinations and finding space between midfield and defence.
Buendia produced four goals and five assists during Villa’s Europa League-winning campaign. UEFA’s official 2025/26 statistics show only Deniz Undav produced more assists in the competition.
His best performance came when Villa needed it most.
Buendia scored and assisted in the 3-0 final victory over Freiburg, earning UEFA’s Player of the Match award. UEFA praised his work between the lines and attacking influence in the final.
His goal in Istanbul was later voted the competition’s Goal of the Tournament.
Emery has an important role available
Villa have added attacking talent this summer, but the departure of Rogers still creates space behind the striker.
Buendia has already shown he can operate centrally, drift towards either flank and combine with Ollie Watkins. That flexibility gives Emery several ways to use him rather than asking him to copy Rogers’ role.
Bayern will provide a much stronger measure of where Villa are before the UEFA Super Cup.
If Buendia can continue influencing games against higher-level opposition, the argument for giving him a larger role against PSG and into the Premier League season becomes stronger.
Villa will still miss what Rogers gave them. They do not necessarily need to replace it with one identical player.
