First-team squad
28
under contract
Average age
25.5
years
Window spend
£327.5m
11 arrivals
Contracts to 2027
7
nearest expiry
The Squad, In Full
Every player under first-team contract. Names link to the Player Database. Fees in euros as recorded at signing.
Goalkeepers
| # | Player | Position | Age | Nation | Height | Foot | Signed | Contract to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | Marco Bizot | Goalkeeper | 35 | Netherlands | 6'4" | right | 2025 from Brest (€0.5m) | 2027 |
| 42 | James Wright | Goalkeeper | 21 | England | 6'3" | right | 2026 from Academy · Promoted to the senior roster August 31st 2026 | — |
| 1 | Zion Suzuki | Goalkeeper | 24 | Japan | 6'3" | right | 2026 from Parma (€30m (+€5m add-ons)) · Confirmed August 19th 2026 | 2031 |
Defenders
| # | Player | Position | Age | Nation | Height | Foot | Signed | Contract to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Pau Torres | Centre-Back | 29 | Spain | 6'4" | left | 2023 from Villarreal (€33m) | 2028 |
| 48 | Modou Kéba Cissé | Centre-Back | 21 | Senegal | 6'3" | — | 2026 from LASK (€5.5m) | 2029 |
| 3 | Victor Lindelöf | Centre-Back | 32 | Sweden | 6'2" | right | 2025 from Man United (free) | 2027 |
| 5 | Tyrone Mings | Centre-Back | 33 | England | 6'5" | left | 2019 from Bournemouth (€22.3m) | 2027 |
| 22 | Ian Maatsen | Left-Back | 24 | Netherlands | 5'10" | left | 2024 from Chelsea (€44.5m) | 2030 |
| 2 | Matty Cash | Right-Back | 29 | Poland | 6'1" | right | 2020 from Nottingham Forest (€15.75m) | 2029 |
| 13 | Matteo Ruggeri | Left-Back | 24 | Italy | 6'2" | left | 2026 from Atlético Madrid (€25m (+€1.5m add-ons)) · Confirmed August 19th 2026 | — |
| 29 | Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Right-Back | 28 | DR Congo | 6'0" | right | 2026 from West Ham United (loan (obligation to buy ~£18m, appearance-conditional)) · Season loan confirmed August 21st 2026 | 2027 |
| 4 | Taylor Harwood-Bellis | Centre-Back | 24 | England | — | — | 2026 from Southampton (£25m + up to £5m add-ons (~£29m-£30m)) · Confirmed September 1st 2026 | 2031 |
Midfielders
| # | Player | Position | Age | Nation | Height | Foot | Signed | Contract to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Amadou Onana | Defensive Midfield | 25 | Belgium | 6'5" | right | 2024 from Everton (€59.35m) | 2029 |
| 8 | Boubacar Kamara | Defensive Midfield | 26 | France | 6'0" | right | 2022 from Marseille (free) | 2030 |
| 26 | Lamare Bogarde | Defensive Midfield | 22 | Netherlands | 6'1" | right | 2024 from Villa academy | 2028 |
| 7 | John McGinn | Central Midfield | 31 | Scotland | 5'10" | left | 2018 from Hibernian (€3.1m) | 2028 |
| 6 | Ross Barkley | Central Midfield | 32 | England | 6'2" | right | 2024 from Luton (€5.9m) | 2027 |
| 44 | Johan Manzambi | Attacking Midfield | 20 | Switzerland | 6'0" | right | 2026 from SC Freiburg (€70m) · Club-record signing, confirmed July 17th 2026 | 2031 |
| 35 | João Gomes | Central Midfield | 25 | Brazil | 5'9" | 2026 from Wolverhampton Wanderers (£38m) · Confirmed July 20th 2026; £38m includes add-ons | 2031 | |
| 53 | George Hemmings | Central Midfield | 19 | England | — | both | 2026 from Academy | — |
| 27 | Leon Goretzka | Central Midfield | 31 | Germany | 6'2" | right | 2026 from Free agent (Bayern Munich) (Free) · Confirmed August 27th 2026; two-year deal to 2028 with a one-year option | 2028 |
Forwards
| # | Player | Position | Age | Nation | Height | Foot | Signed | Contract to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Emiliano Buendía | Left Winger | 29 | Argentina | 5'8" | right | 2021 from Norwich (€38.4m) | 2027 |
| 47 | Alysson | Right Winger | 20 | Brazil | 6'0" | left | 2026 from Grêmio (€10m) | 2031 |
| 18 | Tammy Abraham | Centre-Forward | 28 | England | 6'4" | right | 2026 from Beşiktaş (€21m) | 2030 |
| 17 | Alejandro Garnacho | Left Winger | 22 | Argentina | 5'11" | right | 2026 from Chelsea (loan (~£42.5m obligation)) · Season loan confirmed July 23rd 2026 | 2027 |
| 39 | Brian Madjo | Centre-Forward | 17 | England | 6'4" | right | 2026 from Metz (£10m) | 2032 |
| 11 | Nicolas Jackson | Centre-Forward | 25 | Senegal | 6'2" | — | 2026 from Chelsea (£47.5m (+£17.5m add-ons)) · Confirmed August 28th 2026; five-year deal to 2031 per press, length not stated by the club | 2031 |
| 19 | Ibrahim Mbaye | Right Winger | 18 | Senegal | — | — | 2026 from Paris Saint-Germain (€55m (~£47m)) · Confirmed September 1st 2026 | 2031 |
Out on loan
| Player | Position | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kosta Nedeljković | Right-Back | Rangers | Season-long loan with a £4m appearance-triggered obligation to buy (August 19th) |
| Oliwier Zych | Goalkeeper | Vitória Guimarães | Season loan (July 15th) |
| Andrés García | Right-Back | Getafe | Season loan (July 16th) |
| Joe Gauci | Goalkeeper | Lincoln City | Season-long loan (July 28th) |
| Evann Guessand | Right Winger | Crystal Palace | Season-long loan with a conditional obligation to buy (August 12th) |
| Samuel Iling-Junior | Left Winger | Bolton Wanderers | Season-long loan (August 14th) |
Current Best XI — 4-2-3-1
STNicolas JacksonTammy Abraham
LWGeorge HemmingsAlejandro Garnacho
AMEmiliano BuendíaRoss Barkley
RWJohn McGinnIbrahim Mbaye
LDMBoubacar KamaraJohn McGinn
RDMRoss BarkleyLamare Bogarde
LBIan MaatsenMatteo Ruggeri
LCBPau TorresTyrone Mings
RCBVictor LindelöfTaylor Harwood-Bellis
RBAaron Wan-BissakaMatty Cash
GKZion SuzukiMarco Bizot
Cash is a late call after Emery called it difficult a day out, so Wan-Bissaka keeps the right-back place he took at Club Brugge. Gomes is banned, so Barkley partners Kamara, McGinn stays right. Hemmings has started every match on the left, Jackson scored in Bruges, and Buendía keeps the 10.
Cash returns at right-back if he comes through the test. With Gomes banned, Bogarde is the alternative beside Kamara and McGinn can drop in. Garnacho covers Hemmings, Barkley covers Buendía, Mbaye covers McGinn. Harwood-Bellis and Mings cover centre-back, Bizot backs Suzuki, Ruggeri the left, Abraham the striker.
Potential Best XI — 4-2-3-1
STNicolas JacksonTammy Abraham
LWAlejandro GarnachoGeorge Hemmings
AMJohan ManzambiEmiliano Buendía
RWIbrahim MbayeAlysson
LDMBoubacar KamaraJohn McGinn
RDMJoão GomesLeon Goretzka
LBIan MaatsenMatteo Ruggeri
LCBPau TorresTyrone Mings
RCBVictor LindelöfTaylor Harwood-Bellis
RBMatty CashAaron Wan-Bissaka
GKZion SuzukiMarco Bizot
Manzambi at 10 as Rogers's replacement, Kamara screening beside Gomes, Mbaye on the right. Lindelöf keeps centre-back with Torres: nobody at the club has called Harwood-Bellis a starter, and Emery left him out of the Champions League squad. Buendía covers the 10.
Goretzka and McGinn are the pivot cover, Buendía the 10-cover behind Manzambi. Harwood-Bellis is the centre-back cover alongside Mings. Alysson covers Mbaye on the right, Hemmings covers Garnacho, Bizot backs Suzuki, Ruggeri covers Maatsen, and Wan-Bissaka covers Cash. Abraham is the striker cover behind Jackson.
This Window
Completed moves only — deals in progress live on the rumor board until they're official.
- IN Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain — €55m (~£47m) (September 1st)
- IN Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea — £47.5m (+£17.5m add-ons) (August 28th)
- IN Leon Goretzka from Free agent (ex-Bayern Munich) — Free (August 27th)
- IN Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham United — loan (~£18m obligation) (August 21st)
- IN Zion Suzuki from Parma — €30m (~£25m, +€5m add-ons) (August 19th)
- IN Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid — €25m (~£21m, +€1.5m add-ons) (August 19th)
- IN Johan Manzambi from SC Freiburg — £59.5m (July 17th)
- IN Modou Kéba Cissé from LASK — ~£4m (July 14th)
- IN João Gomes from Wolverhampton Wanderers — £38m (July 20th)
- IN Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea — loan (~£42.5m obligation) (July 23rd)
- IN Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton — £25m + add-ons (~£29m-£30m) (September 1st)
- OUT Leon Bailey to Olympiacos — permanent transfer (fee undisclosed) (September 2nd)
- OUT Triston Rowe to Royal Charleroi — season-long loan, with Charleroi holding an option to make the move permanent (September 1st)
- OUT Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal — permanent transfer (£51m) (August 30th)
- OUT Emiliano Martínez to Chelsea — permanent transfer (£7.5m) (August 30th)
- OUT Ezri Konsa to Arsenal — permanent transfer (£51m fixed + up to £4m add-ons) (August 21st)
- OUT Kosta Nedeljković to Rangers — season-long loan with a £4m appearance-triggered obligation to buy (August 19th)
- OUT Samuel Iling-Junior to Bolton Wanderers — season-long loan (August 14th)
- OUT Evann Guessand to Crystal Palace — season-long loan with a conditional obligation to buy (August 12th)
- OUT Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain — permanent transfer (release clause, ~£8m) (August 9th)
- OUT Joe Gauci to Lincoln City — season loan (July 28th)
- OUT Morgan Rogers to Chelsea — transfer (British-record £117m fixed fee) (July 21st)
- OUT Andrés García to Getafe — season loan (July 16th)
- OUT Oliwier Zych to Vitória Guimarães — season loan (July 15th)
- OUT Lewis Dobbin to Southampton — permanent transfer (~£9m + add-ons) (July 15th)
- OUT Youri Tielemans to Manchester United — transfer (£35m release clause) (July 14th)
- OUT Sil Swinkels to Sheffield Wednesday — permanent transfer (undisclosed fee; Villa retain matching rights) (July 2nd)
- OUT Enzo Barrenechea to Benfica — transfer (July 1st)
- OUT Donyell Malen to Roma — loan obligation-to-buy (€25m) (June 30th)
- OUT Jadon Sancho to Manchester United — loan ended — returned to parent club (June 30th)
- OUT Douglas Luiz to Juventus — loan ended — returned to parent club (June 30th)
- OUT Harvey Elliott to Liverpool — loan ended — returned to parent club (June 30th)
- BACK Evann Guessand returned from loan at Crystal Palace (June 30th)
- BACK Samuel Iling-Junior returned from loan at Pisa (June 30th)
- BACK Kosta Nedeljković returned from loan at RB Leipzig (June 30th)
- BACK Joe Gauci returned from loan at Port Vale (June 30th)
- U21 Sam Proctor to Shrewsbury Town — season loan (July 17th)
- U21 Yeimar Mosquera to Vitória Guimarães — permanent transfer (undisclosed fee; Villa retain a sell-on percentage) (July 16th)
- U21 Louie Barry to Sheffield Wednesday — permanent transfer (four-year deal, undisclosed fee) (July 9th)
- U21 Kadan Young to Annecy — season loan (July 8th)
- U21 Zepiqueno Redmond to Annecy — season loan (July 7th)
Availability
| Player | Status | Issue | Expected return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matty Cash | DOUBTFUL | Muscle soreness, felt before the trip to Belgium; the club have not published a diagnosis. | Unai Emery said at his pre-match press conference on the afternoon of September 11th that it is difficult, that Cash has needed a few days' rest and that the club would test him in training later that day before deciding on Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on September 12th. Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic had reported on September 8th that Villa decided not to take a risk with him and that he was hopefully expected to be available for the weekend. He missed the Champions League opener at Club Brugge on September 8th. |
| Brian Madjo | OUT | Foot injury sustained in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain on August 12th; the club have not published a diagnosis. | Unai Emery said on September 4th that the 17-year-old remains sidelined and needs at least another two weeks. Ben Fisher of the Guardian reported the same evening that Madjo is not expected to play until October, and Emery said he hoped the striker would be available after the international break and could be added to the Champions League squad in January. That rules him out of the Champions League opener at Club Brugge on September 8th and Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on September 12th. |
| Amadou Onana | OUT | ACL rupture, right knee (World Cup, July 7th) — surgery July 21st | April 2027 (nine-month timeline) |
| Johan Manzambi | DOUBTFUL | Knee injury sustained during Switzerland's World Cup campaign | Unai Emery said at his pre-match press conference on the afternoon of September 11th that Manzambi is getting better and has trained with the squad all week, and that he would decide after that afternoon's session whether the midfielder is ready to be involved against Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on September 12th. Matt Maher of the Express & Star had reported earlier on September 11th that he could feature for the first time in that match. Emery had ruled him out of Club Brugge on September 7th, saying he was progressing very well and would be available “in a few days after tomorrow”. |
| Modou Kéba Cissé | OUT | Injured; the club have not published a diagnosis. | No timeframe has been given. |
| Leon Goretzka | OUT | BILD report an irritation in the left knee. The club have published no diagnosis; the midfielder says his body reacted to the increased workload after a spell away from the pitch, and Ben Fisher of the Guardian described it as a knee injury setback. | After the international break. Goretzka said in a statement on September 7th that he needed “this short break” and would use the coming days, including the international break, to recover fully; Matt Maher of the Express & Star and Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic both reported the same timeframe that evening, and Ben Fisher, writing from Bruges later the same night, put it at not before October. BILD went further on September 8th, naming October 10th at home to Brentford as the earliest likely date for his debut. Matt Maher restated on September 11th that Goretzka is out until next month. That rules him out of Club Brugge on September 8th, Nottingham Forest on September 12th, the EFL Cup tie at Coventry City on September 16th, and Tottenham Hotspur on September 19th. |
Academy Watch
The youth players closest to the first team — senior minutes, matchday squads, or moves brewing. Not the full academy: the names that matter for the season ahead.
| Player | Position | Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba | Attacking Midfield | 19 | At the club and currently injured. West Ham United made an enquiry in the closing stages of the window and Villa were willing to sanction an exit for the right opportunity, but a shoulder problem sustained in training halted any move before the deadline, per Jacob Tanswell's account of Villa's business for The Athletic. No agreement was reached between the clubs, so this reads as an enquiry rather than a collapsed deal. Tanswell had reported on August 1st that he stayed in England rather than travelling on the Far East tour in order to explore options elsewhere; he started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury that day and was denied by Sam Proctor after driving into the penalty area. |
| Luka Lynch | Right Winger | 19 | CONFIRMED: joined Oxford United on loan until January 2nd, announced by Oxford on the morning of September 2nd after a deal sheet was submitted at 11.12pm BST on deadline day. Head coach Aaron Ramsey called the winger direct and strong in one-on-one situations. Lynch has yet to make a senior competitive appearance for Villa, but scored in pre-season against Walsall and Porto and assisted against BG Pathum United in Indonesia. He made his Oxford debut on September 5th, coming off the bench at Leicester City and setting up Jamie McDonnell for the fourth goal in a 4-0 win at Filbert Way. |
| Bradley Burrowes | Right Winger | 18 | CONFIRMED: joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan, Aston Villa confirmed September 1st (BirminghamLive live blog, 18:03 BST), a step on from Football Insider's (Pranav Ghai) August 31st report that he was undergoing his medical after Wigan agreed a deal. The Latics beat out interest from a number of Championship and League One clubs; he is expected to go straight into Gary Caldwell's side amid a difficult start to Wigan's League One season. Villa retain no intention of losing him permanently and view the loan as the next development step, having signed him to a new contract in March. He remains an unused substitute for the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and was in the squad for the Premier League loss at Brighton, with 18 goals and five assists in 23 academy appearances last season underlining the case for regular senior minutes elsewhere. |
| Ben Broggio | Left Winger | 19 | CONFIRMED: joined Stevenage (League One) on a season-long loan for 2026-27, announced by the club on August 30th and corroborated by BBC Sport — Stevenage's seventh signing of the summer, beating other EFL competition for his signature. Came off the bench in the 23rd minute at Porto on July 25th and again on 70 minutes against Real Sociedad on July 28th, and started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury on August 1st, scoring the 54th-minute equaliser in a 3-2 defeat. Spent the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Falkirk, scoring three in eight Scottish Premiership appearances. |
| Aidan Borland | Midfielder | 19 | CONFIRMED: joined Accrington Stanley on a season-long loan, announced by Aston Villa on September 1st 2026 -- a step on from Jacob Tanswell's report on X earlier that day that the League Two club were close to finalising after interest from several EFL sides. Villa regard the 19-year-old Scotland youth international as part of the club's future and a return to League Two as the right next step; he spent the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Swindon Town. First-team matchday squads in 2025-26. Scored in the 5-0 pre-season friendly win at Walsall on July 21st and started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury on August 1st in the 3-2 defeat. |
| Rodrigo Fortes | Left-back | 18 | Senior preseason minutes at Porto on July 25th; Portuguese left-back from the treble-winning 2024-25 U18 side, first professional deal signed November 2024. Started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury on August 1st. |
| Triston Rowe | Right-Back | 19 | CONFIRMED: joined Royal Charleroi (Belgian Pro League) on a season-long loan, Aston Villa confirmed September 1st (BirminghamLive live blog, 19:04 BST). He travelled to Belgium on August 30th to finalise the move; the earlier interest from Stoke City and Brest did not advance to a formal approach. Pete O'Rourke reported for Football Insider on August 11th that Villa wanted a buy-back option written into any deal. Before this, he travelled with the senior squad to the Super Cup in Salzburg (not registered with UEFA, so experience rather than availability) and started a senior friendly at left-back against BG Pathum United on August 4th; Transfermarkt classifies him as a right-back. |
| Travis Patterson | Left-Back | 20 | First-team matchday squads in 2025-26. Back at Villa Park after the FC Annecy loan expired on June 30th, and with Samuel Iling-Junior loaned to Bolton Wanderers on August 14th he is the only other specialist left-back at the club behind Ian Maatsen. Transfermarkt still files him with the U21, squad number 55, no contract expiry published. |
| Mohamed Koné | Midfielder | 18 | First-team matchday squads in 2025-26, senior debut awaited. Jacob Tanswell reported in The Athletic's Transfer DealSheet on June 23rd that Kone will spend the whole of 2026-27 on loan at Ligue 2 side FC Annecy, alongside Kadan Young and Zepiqueno Redmond, through the V Sports multi-club partnership; V Sports hold a 30% stake in the French club, which has already taken Triston Rowe and Travis Patterson on loan. Consistent with that, he no longer appears on the Transfermarkt U21 squad list read in the August 3rd audit. He was a regular for the U21s last season, making 21 appearances and scoring twice. |
| Kadan Young | Winger | 19 | CONFIRMED: joined FC Annecy (Ligue 2) on a season-long loan for 2026-27, announced by Villa on July 8th 2026 alongside Mohamed Koné and Zepiqueno Redmond. Secured a loan move for 2026-27, per Read Aston Villa's July 21st window round-up; Read Aston Villa reported on June 23rd that Villa were preparing to send him to Ligue 2 side Annecy alongside Mohamed Kone and Zepiqueno Redmond. Made 1 first-team appearance in 2025-26 and spent the second half of the season on loan at Reading. |
| Sam Proctor | Goalkeeper | 19 | Joined Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan (League One) for 2026-27, per Express & Star (July 17th). The agreement also committed the clubs to a pre-season friendly: an Aston Villa XI travel to the Croud Meadow on August 1st. Started against his parent club at the Croud Meadow on August 1st and won 3-2: he was caught out by Will Boyle's backpass for Villa's own goal but denied Jamaldeen Jimoh with his feet in the first half and blocked from Samuel Iling-Junior in the second. |
| Rory Wilson | Forward | 20 | In talks to join Norwegian side HamKam on loan until mid-December, per Villa News (July 19th); spent the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Sturm Graz Started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury on August 1st. Sky Sports News' Anthony Joseph reported on July 22nd that those talks had stalled, with the clubs unable to agree the conditions of the loan. The Daily Record reported on August 10th that the Swedish club Sirius are among those looking at him as they replace Robbie Ure, who has joined Sevilla, with IFK Gothenburg also interested and further options in England and Spain. Sky Sports News' Anthony Joseph reported on August 15th that Halmstad BK, bottom of the Allsvenskan, have expressed an interest in taking him on loan, and that Wilson is believed to have other options in Sweden and elsewhere, with a number of clubs in the EFL and across Europe monitoring him. |
| Tommi O'Reilly | Midfielder | 22 | Sealed a season-long loan to Doncaster Rovers, BirminghamLive (via BBC Sport's gossip column and Football Insider) reported on August 26th, after a list of EFL clubs including Notts County chased his signature; he goes straight into Rovers' squad to face Stevenage this weekend. He scored seven and assisted 13 in 50 games on loan at Crewe Alexandra in 2025-26, and started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury, his former loan club, on August 1st. |
| Kane Taylor | Midfielder | 21 | Joined Rochdale on loan until January, confirmed August 21st (BBC Sport, via Yahoo Sports). Dale boss Ian Watson said the club were delighted to get him in, citing the athleticism and quality he brings alongside his League Two experience. Sheffield Wednesday had made their interest known in late July, per The72 and the Sheffield Star, but Rochdale is where the move landed. Birmingham-born, he began in Villa's academy, spent five years at Manchester City and returned in 2024; spent the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Oldham Athletic. Started for the Villa XI at Shrewsbury on August 1st. |
| Josh Feeney | Defender | 21 | LOAN AT PETERBOROUGH UNITED COMPLETED. The club confirmed the move on avfc.co.uk on August 31st ("Feeney completes Posh loan"), a season-long loan, following Jacob Tanswell's August 30th report that the deal was close. Peterborough sought centre-back cover for long-term injury absentee Sam Hughes. The Scotland-eligible centre-back has spent the previous three seasons out on loan, at Real Union, Shrewsbury Town and Huddersfield Town (31 League One appearances last season). |
| TJ Carroll | Centre-back | 19 | STARTED A SENIOR FRIENDLY AT CENTRE-BACK. Theodore 'TJ' Carroll wore 71 alongside Victor Lindelof against BG Pathum United at the True BG Stadium on August 4th and stayed on after the interval when Pau Torres replaced Lindelof, completing the ninety. He had also been among the substitutes at Porto on July 25th. Converted from midfield to centre-back with the Under-18s, he was part of the side that won the FA Youth Cup and the Under-18 Premier League National Final. FotMob's line-up supplies the first name; the published senior team sheet had given him by surname only. |