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Joao Felix completes stunning transfer and Amadou Onana signs: Aston Villa's dream window

Aston Villa have been one of the Premier League's most active clubs this summer, and with the new season fast approaching, Unai Emery may not be done in the transfer market

Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, gives a thumbs up
Unai Emery is in dreamland as he looks to take Aston Villa to more success(Image: Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)

The new Premier League season is just over a month away, and Aston Villa fans have plenty of reasons to be excited.

Unai Emery's side travel to the London Stadium for their first game of the season against West Ham, kicking off what should be an exciting campaign - including a Champions League debut. And while anticipation brews for top-tier European football, Villa know they'll be in safe hands after Emery extended his contract this summer.


The Spaniard - who has won European competitions on four occasions - still has a month to build his squad for the upcoming season. The Mirror reported how his side have already been heavily linked with the likes of Joao Felix and Amadou Onana, but keeping hold of key stars like Ollie Watkins will be another key component to achieving their dream window.


READ MORE: The six ticking contract bombs as Aston Villa face big decisions

READ MORE: Aston Villa transfer news live - Diaby fee, Luiz claim, Barcelona make Nico Williams proposal

Pre-season friendlies

July 20: Spartak Trnava vs Aston Villa - Anton Malatinsky Stadium, Slovakia (15:00)

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July 27: Aston Villa vs Columbus Crew - Lower.com Field, Ohio (01:00)

July 31: Aston Villa vs RB Leipzig - Red Bull Arena, New Jersey (01:00)

August 3: Aston Villa vs Club America - Soldier Field, Chicago (22:30)


August 7: Aston Villa vs Athletic Bilbao - Poundland Bescot Stadium (19:30)

August 10: Aston Villa vs Borussia Dortmund - Signal Iduna Park (16:00)


Transfers

Villa have splashed out nearly £100million so far this summer. Eight new faces will be seen at Villa Park next season, with the standout signing thus far being left-back Ian Maatsen.

Having spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund from Chelsea, the Dutchman impressed as he and the German giants made it to the Champions League final. Villa swooped in to help the Blues balance their books with a £37.5m purchase, and it's expected Maatsen will be a regular starter under Emery.

Another player set to join Villa, although not yet officially announced, is Everton midfielder Amadou Onana. The 22-year-old Belgian - who has been a standout anchor in the Premier League - is reportedly close to completing a £50m move to Villa Park, which would be a significant coup.


Amadou Onana
Everton's Amadou Onana is a chief target for Villa(Image: Photo by THOMAS KIENZLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Other arrivals include Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus, who arrived as part of the deal that sent Douglas Luiz in the other direction. Villa have also acquired Ross Barkley from Luton and young Everton forward Lewis Dobbin, while Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer have each returned.

Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix also appears to have caught the eye at Villa Park, but Marca reported his club want a cool £50m - and aren't open to a loan. Despite his recent penalty miss that saw Portugal exit Euro 2024, Felix would be a significant acquisition for Emery's squad, having joined Atletico in a record-breaking deal back in 2019.


Departures

In order to meet the league's profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) deadline, Villa have had to make some financial cuts. Arguably the most significant of those was the sale of Luiz, a regular starter for the club, to Juve for just shy of £50m.

The Brazil midfielder, who made more than 200 appearances in claret and blue, will be greatly missed in midfield. He joined the club upon their return to the Premier League in 2019 and became a talismanic presence in recent years.

Douglas Luiz
Douglas Luiz was a big-money departure from Villa Park(Image: Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Fortunately, Villa have already secured some solid replacements. Youri Tielemans - a free coup last summer - and John McGinn are ready to step up in Luiz's absence, and Onana looks set to join in a role that will see him guard the back line.

Other exits include Tim Iroegbunam, who moved to Everton in June for around £9m, and French star Morgan Sanson, who has left for Nice after spending last season on loan in the French Riviera. Meanwhile, Moussa Diaby is reportedly close to signing with Saudi Pro League team Al-Ittihad in a move that could see Villa recoup all of last summer's £52m investment.

Just a year after joining under Emery, record-signing Diaby is rumoured to be leaving for a hefty fee. It's understandable the club would be reluctant to sell the forward so soon, however, and a dream scenario might comprise slightly more profit on the deal.


Should the club decide to sell, the funds raised could be reinvested into a new signing, or it might pave the way for young Morgan Rogers to get more first-team action. Watkins has also been linked with a move to Arsenal following his Euro 2024 heroics for England, though Diaby's departure may help ease any sense of urgency to cash in on their star striker.

Emery's contract extension

Unai Emery
Unai Emery has worked wonders at Villa(Image: IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Emery's April contract extension will keep him at the club until 2027. The former Arsenal boss took over at Villa Park in 2022 on a mission to save the club after they had only managed two wins from their first 11 games under Steven Gerrard.


The Spaniard performed miracles and secured 15 wins from 23 league matches, bagging 49 points out of a possible 75. That was good enough to guide the club to seventh and earn what was then a very coveted spot in the Europa Conference League.

His most recent campaign saw him elevate the club to new heights. A fourth-place finish will give Villa their first taste of Champions League football since its rebranding from the European Cup, and there's an even greater sense of promise around this season.

With four Europa League titles under his belt, Emery will strive to take them as far as possible within the new format. And there will be no doubt that silverware is very much on the agenda.

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Aston Villa's dream opening day XI: Martinez; Cash, Torres, Konsa, Maatsen; Tielemans, Onana; Bailey, McGinn, Felix; Watkins.

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