Aston Villa’s £160million summer rebuild has transformed Unai Emery’s squad, but significant change behind the scenes could prove just as important when the new Premier League season begins. Several members of Emery’s coaching, medical and performance staff have left Villa Park during a summer already defined by major player departures.
Villa’s transfer business has understandably dominated attention.
Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa have all departed, while the futures of Ollie Watkins and Emi Martínez remain uncertain.
Read Aston Villa has already examined how Villa’s 93-day rebuild could eventually remove six starters from the Europa League final.
The scale of change, however, extends far beyond Emery’s playing squad.
Aston Villa lose key staff during major rebuild
A new analysis from The Guardian reports that two Villa physios and the club’s head of medical have moved to Arsenal.
Technical assistant Jaime Arias Galán has also left, while individual development coach Rodri joined Como.
Emery has additionally lost assistant Pako Ayestarán and set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee.
MacPhee’s departure is particularly significant after Villa developed into one of the Premier League’s strongest sides from dead-ball situations.
Chelsea have since described MacPhee as one of the most successful set-piece coaches of recent seasons and noted that Villa scored 29 set-piece goals last term, joint-most in the Premier League.
Villa have moved to address that departure and opened talks to bring in Pål Fjelde as MacPhee’s replacement.
£160m gives Emery room to rebuild Aston Villa
There is a clear upside to the playing-side overhaul.
The Guardian calculates Villa’s current net transfer surplus at approximately £160million, even before any potential Watkins departure.
Johan Manzambi, João Gomes, Zion Suzuki and Matteo Ruggeri have arrived permanently, Alejandro Garnacho has joined on loan and Aaron Wan-Bissaka gives Emery another defensive option.
Villa have also agreed a deal to sign Leon Goretzka after negotiations accelerated rapidly on Friday.
The German’s arrival provides another important piece for a midfield which has lost Tielemans and currently has Amadou Onana unavailable.
Emery therefore has the resources and new talent required to shape another version of his Villa side.
Brighton will provide first glimpse of Villa’s new era
The concern is how quickly so many new pieces can function together.
Losing important players is difficult enough. Changing assistants, medical personnel, individual development staff and a highly successful set-piece coach during the same period adds another layer of uncertainty.
Konsa’s £55million departure to Arsenal was the latest major change, with Villa now rebuilding a defence that looked considerably different only a few months ago.
Emery remains the constant and his ability to integrate new players has helped Villa make enormous progress since his arrival.
Sunday’s trip to Brighton will offer the first Premier League evidence of how quickly this latest rebuild is coming together.
Villa have generated enormous financial flexibility and refreshed an ageing squad.
The challenge now is ensuring the upheaval around Emery does not temporarily remove some of the advantages that helped Villa reach this position in the first place.
