Aston Villa have successfully concluded a crucial period of contract negotiations, securing the long-term futures of several key first-team players as manager Unai Emery builds for the years ahead.
New Deals Secured for Villa's Core
The club has announced that Morgan Rogers has signed a new contract that will keep him at Villa Park until 2031. This fresh agreement comes despite the midfielder already being under contract until 2030, underlining his importance to Emery's project.
Rogers follows captain John McGinn and defender Matty Cash in committing his future to the club. McGinn's new deal runs until 2028, while Cash is now tied to Villa until 2029. This proactive approach sees the club addressing the contracts of players with less time remaining on their existing terms.
The Looming Decisions on Expiring Contracts
As things stand, only three senior players are set to see their contracts expire next summer. Two are loanees – Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho – who have yet to make a significant impact. Elliott's situation is complicated by an obligation-to-buy clause linked to his appearance count.
The third is Ross Barkley. The 31-year-old midfielder, who returned on a free transfer, has recently been back in the match-day squad and scored in the 4-0 victory over Bournemouth. With only three Premier League starts this season, the club faces a choice: allow his deal to expire or trigger an option to extend it by a further 12 months.
Youri Tielemans: The Obvious Candidate for an Extension
With the immediate business largely complete, attention now turns to the next group of players whose contracts are due to expire in 2027. The most prominent name in this category is Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans.
After a stuttering start, the 28-year-old has proven to be an exceptional piece of business since arriving on a free transfer from Leicester City. He is no mere squad player but a valued starter when fit, having thrived under Emery's management. He appears to be the clear and obvious next in line for a contract extension.
Other players with deals ending in 2027 include Emi Buendia, who has been playing well and could be in for a surprising turnaround in his Villa prospects. Less is known about the situations of goalkeeper Marco Bizot and defender Victor Lindelöf, with reports suggesting the latter has a mutual option for an additional year. Club stalwart Tyrone Mings, currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, only signed a new contract in June.
For now, all eyes at Bodymoor Heath are on formulating a plan to secure the future of the influential Youri Tielemans.
