Aston Villa will emerge from this summer looking almost unrecognisable. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne have already left, Ollie Watkins is heading for Al-Hilal and Emiliano Martinez could still follow. Unai Emery is not simply refreshing his squad. He is building a new Aston Villa team.
Only a few months have passed since Villa lifted the Europa League and secured another season of Champions League football.
Yet several of the players who formed the core of that side will not be part of what comes next.
The turnover accelerated dramatically on Wednesday when Villa accepted Al-Hilal’s offer for Watkins.
Within hours, a deal worth up to £65million had been agreed with Chelsea for Nicolas Jackson.
It was another reminder of the scale and speed of Villa’s transformation.
| IN | OUT |
| Zion Suzuki | Morgan Rogers |
| Matteo Ruggeri | Youri Tielemans |
| João Gomes | Ezri Konsa |
| Johan Manzambi | Lucas Digne |
| Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Ollie Watkins |
| Alejandro Garnacho | |
| Nicolas Jackson |
Aston Villa lose core of Emery’s first great side
Watkins leaving carries particular significance.
The England international joined Villa from Brentford in 2020 and remained through several different phases of the club’s development.
Under Emery, he became one of the Premier League’s most reliable forwards.
His goals helped Villa return to the Champions League before playing another major role in their Europa League success.
Selling Watkins at 30 represents a major footballing decision, even with Al-Hilal paying €58.4m plus €2m in add-ons.
He is far from the only senior figure to depart.
Rogers moved to Chelsea after developing into one of Villa’s biggest attacking assets.
Tielemans had become vital to Emery’s midfield structure before leaving for Manchester United.
Konsa’s £55m move to Arsenal removed one of the manager’s most dependable defenders.
Digne also left for Paris Saint-Germain after providing experience on the left.
Villa have therefore lost important players from almost every area of the pitch in the same window.
Nicolas Jackson becomes face of new attack
Jackson could become the defining signing of the rebuild.
Villa have agreed to pay Chelsea £47.5m initially, with another £17.5m potentially taking the total package to £65m.
The 25-year-old is expected to replace Watkins as Emery’s first-choice centre-forward.
There is already familiarity between manager and player after their time together at Villarreal.
That should give Jackson an advantage as he adapts to a squad undergoing major change.
Villa had also prepared for Watkins’ possible departure before Wednesday night.
They submitted a substantial offer for Jackson before their agreement with Al-Hilal was finalised.
It allowed Villa to move from one striker to another without entering the final days of the window desperately searching for a replacement.
The club could yet add even more attacking quality.
Villa remain in talks with AC Milan over Rafael Leão, with the Portugal international believed to prefer a move to Villa Park.
A proposed loan containing an obligation to buy is under discussion.
Landing Leão alongside Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho would give Emery a completely different attacking unit.
Zion Suzuki points towards goalkeeper change
Another major transition is taking place behind them.
Martinez has been one of Villa’s defining players since arriving from Arsenal in 2020.
His performances helped stabilise Villa in the Premier League before he became central to their rise under Emery.
Yet his future has become increasingly uncertain.
A proposed move to Juventus collapsed earlier in August, but Martinez has since been offered to Chelsea.
Villa have already prepared for life without him.
Zion Suzuki arrived from Parma this summer and has been identified as the club’s long-term No.1.
Marco Bizot started the opening Premier League defeat against Brighton, while Martinez has been away from the first-team picture.
Whether Chelsea move forward or another club emerges, Villa’s direction appears clear.
Suzuki represents the future.
Replacing a goalkeeper who has made more than 250 appearances for the club is another huge change Emery must manage.
Villa have rebuilt their midfield
Midfield has undergone its own reconstruction.
Tielemans had become one of Villa’s most important players because of his ability to control possession and progress the ball.
Replacing his influence was never going to be straightforward.
Villa responded by investing in João Gomes and Johan Manzambi.
Gomes brings extensive Premier League experience after his time with Wolves, while Manzambi arrives with significant potential after his development in Germany.
Boubacar Kamara remains another important option.
The combination gives Emery a younger midfield base, although it may take time before the new group reproduces the control Villa enjoyed with Tielemans.
Gomes’ red card in the 4-0 opening defeat at Brighton complicated the immediate picture.
His suspension temporarily removes one of the players Villa expect to become an important part of the new side.
Over the longer term, though, midfield is another area where Villa have clearly chosen evolution over continuity.
Ezri Konsa still needs replacing
Centre-back remains the obvious unfinished piece.
Konsa’s departure created a major vacancy and Villa have already explored several routes to fill it.
They made considerable progress towards signing Joel Ordóñez from Club Brugge before the deal fell apart.
Concerns over the Ecuador international’s fractured metatarsal were followed by Crystal Palace accelerating their own pursuit.
Southampton have also rejected Villa’s attempts to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
The club have therefore widened their search.
Jean-Clair Todibo has emerged as a prominent alternative, with the West Ham defender available following their relegation.
Todibo would bring substantial top-flight experience and could slot immediately alongside Pau Torres.
Villa have already dealt with West Ham this summer after signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka on loan.
Another agreement between the clubs could provide the final major piece of Emery’s new spine.
Unai Emery faces a different challenge
Villa’s aggressive rebuild carries obvious risk.
Established partnerships have disappeared.
New signings must adapt quickly to Emery’s detailed tactical demands while expectations remain high after successive seasons of major progress.
The opening defeat at Brighton exposed how uncomfortable that transition can become.
Villa conceded four goals before half-time and rarely looked settled.
Yet the club have chosen not to protect the old squad simply because it delivered success.
Major offers arrived.
Some players wanted to move.
Villa responded by reinvesting rather than attempting to preserve a team whose cycle may have been reaching its conclusion.
Suzuki could replace Martinez.
A new centre-back must replace Konsa.
Gomes and Manzambi are part of the midfield reset.
Jackson replaces Watkins.
Garnacho has added another dimension in attack, while Leão could still follow.
By the time the transfer window closes, Emery’s first great Aston Villa team may largely belong to the past.
His biggest task now is making sure the next one can achieve just as much.
