Detailed Aston Villa Season Preview: Insights and Predictions

Where Did Aston Villa Finish Last Season?

First day back 😤 pic.twitter.com/zCkI4FT5xg

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 7, 2025

Though sixth place in the Premier League is nothing to be sniffed at, Aston Villa were in total control of the race for Champions League qualification, all the way up until the end of the final day.

With fifth place an additional UCL qualifying spot, all Villa needed to do was continue their excellent run-in form with a win at Manchester United on the final day to secure their second successive season in Europe’s elite club competition. However, a first half red card for Emiliano Martinez saw their hopes slowly ebb away, and as United celebrated an end-of-season victory, Villa were drearily looking ahead to Europa League football in 2025/26.

However, there were bright spots last campaign - they reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, losing to eventual champions Crystal Palace, and also made the last eight in the Champions League, almost pulling off a shock comeback victory over eventual winners PSG in the process. So while their Premier League season may have ended in disappointment, there are still plenty of signs that Unai Emery’s Villains are not to be underestimated this season.

Best Result: Aston Villa 4-1 Newcastle (Watkins 1’, Maatsen 64’, Burn OG 73’, Onana 75’: Schar 18’)

Worst Result: Crystal Palace 4-1 Aston Villa (Mateta 59’, Sarr 29’, 71’, Nketiah 90+1’: Rogers 52’)

Who Have Aston Villa Signed So Far In This Summer Transfer Window?

Evann Guessand from OGC Nice - £26 Million + £4.3 Million Add Ons

Yasin Ozcan from Kasimpasa - £6 Million

Marco Bizot from Stade Brestois - Undisclosed Fee

Zepiqueno Redmond from Feyenoord - Free Transfer

Who Have Aston Villa Sold So Far In This Summer Transfer Window?

Yasin Ozcan to Anderlecht - Season long loan

Kaine Kesler-Hayden to Coventry City - £3.5 Million

Rico Richards to Port Vale - Loan made permanent for Undisclosed Fee

Tommi O'Reilly to Crewe Alexandra - Season long loan

Louie Barry to Sheffield United - Season long loan

Josh Feeney to Huddersfield Town - Season long loan

Sil Swinkels to Exeter City - Season long loan

Kosta Nedeljkovic to RB Leipzig - Season long loan

Filip Marschall to Stevenage - Undisclosed Fee

Finley Munroe to Swindon Town - Season long loan

Philippe Coutinho to Vasco de Gama - Loan made permanent after Contract Terminated

Robin Olsen to Malmo FF - Free Transfer

Kortney Hause - Contract Expired

Marcus Rashford to Manchester United - End of Loan

Marco Asensio to PSG - End of Loan

Axel Disasi to Chelsea - End of Loan

Aston Villa 2025/26 Squad List

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martinez, Marco Bizot, Joe Gauci.

Defenders: Alex Moreno, Lino Sousa, Samuel Iling-Junior, Matty Cash, Ezri Konso, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Andres Garcia, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde.

Midfielders: Leander Dendoncker, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara.

Attackers: Ollie Watkins, Jacob Ramsey, Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, Donyell Malen, Lewis Dobbin, Zepiqueno Redmond.

Aston Villa 2025/26 Home, Away and Third Kits

🚨🚨| OFFICIAL: Aston Villa release their new home kit for the 2025/26 season. pic.twitter.com/H646qVd1xT

— Goals Side (@goalsside) July 15, 2025

no place like Brum. no club like Villa. 🦁

introducing the new Aston Villa 25/26 away kit. available now. 👉 https://t.co/yU8k9npWIw pic.twitter.com/O48Al01XmH

— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) May 22, 2025

💥 Aston Villa x adidas 25/26 💥

💠 New Third Kit! pic.twitter.com/WtYzbmPieq

— Opaleak (@opaleak) July 22, 2025

What is Aston Villa’s Opening Premier League Fixture?

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United | Villa Park, Birmingham | Saturday, August 16th, 12:30

How Can I Watch Aston Villa vs Newcastle United?

Aston Villa’s opening fixture of the season will be shown on TNT Sports, although it is not yet clear which of the company’s channels the game will be broadcasted on.

What are Aston Villa’s First Five League Games?

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United - Saturday, August 16th.

Brentford vs Aston Villa - Saturday, August 23rd.

Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace - Friday, August 29th.

Everton vs Aston Villa - Saturday, September 13th.

Sunderland vs Aston Villa - Sunday, September 21st.

When Do Aston Villa Play Rivals Wolves in 2025/26?

With their two main rivals in Birmingham City and West Brom vying for promotion from the Championship, Villa’s only existing rival in the Premier League is Wolves. With Wolves showing signs of kicking on at the end of last season, the meetings between these two sides will undoubtedly be tasty affairs.

Aston Villa vs Wolves - TBC.

Wolves vs Aston Villa - TBC.

Last Five Meetings:

- 01/02/2025: Wolves 2-0 Aston Villa.

- 21/09/2024: Aston Villa 3-1 Wolves.

- 30/03/2024: Aston Villa 2-0 Wolves.

- 08/10/2023: Wolves 1-1 Aston Villa.

- 06/05/2023: Wolves 1-0 Aston Villa.

Who is Aston Villa’s Manager for 2025/26?

Set to take charge of his third full season as the man in the hot seat, Unai Emery is yet to have a bad season in charge of Aston Villa. Never finishing outside the top seven, he has guided the club to new heights, and left memories of relegation battles just five years ago in the distant past.

Though their level last campaign was a slight regression on 2023/24, Emery’s smart recruitment of Marco Asensio, Marcus Rashford and Axel Disasi on six month loans saw the Villains wreak havoc among their competitors in the last few months of the season, and almost proved enough to claim a coveted Champions League spot.

However, playing in the Europa League next season fits the bill perfectly for Emery - four times a winner of the tournament already, he will have his eye on that magical number five, Moreover, he will be desperate to win the tournament for the first time with a non-Spanish club.

Who is Aston Villa’s Player to Watch?

Morgan Rogers

Villa’s breakout player last season, every club in the country now dreams of Rogers’ signature. An immensely skillful forward who can play on both wings, up top, and just behind the striker, there is no stopping him once he lengthens his stride.

Morgan Rogers 🥶 pic.twitter.com/sEHYHiwT12

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 5, 2025

Capable of carrying the ball great distances, winning one on one duels, and very unselfish, Rogers racked up 14 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last season - considering 2024/25 was his first full season of Premier League football, that is an impressive return.

However, his good form has attracted plenty of suitors - Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea are all monitoring the 22-year-olds situation, and should he make the decision to move on this summer, things will move quickly. Expect Villa and Emery to do everything in their power to tie him down with a new contract.

Aston Villa 2025/26 Season Prediction

Showing their hand amongst Europe's elite in their run to the Champions League quarter-finals, Unai Emery underlined that his side is not to be trifled with, even if 2024/25 did not contain the same surprise title aspirations as the previous campaign had.

Finishing the season in outstanding form, the Villains were so unfortunate to miss out on Champions League football this campaign - Newcastle just pinched the final qualification spot on goal difference. But this may in fact prove to be a blessing in disguise. Though impressive, Villa were overpowered by Europe's elite in the UCL, and a deep run in the Europa League may well be exactly what the club needs to reinforce a winning mentality at the club. As an added bonus, lifting the trophy, which Emery's squad is more than capable of doing, would see them return to the Champions League anyway, which would see things come full circle.

A few more signings are needed if they are to be considered as serious threats this season, but with much of last years squad still intact, Villa are a danger wherever they play. Expect a top eight finish and a Europa League final appearance.

Football Park's Prediction: 7th