Unai Emery is on the verge of finalizing a new contract with Aston Villa that will extend his tenure beyond 2029 and grant him greater authority over the club's long-term strategic direction. According to BBC Sport, the Spanish manager held discussions with the club's hierarchy on Wednesday to map out the organization's future, with both sides expressing enthusiasm for prolonging his time at Villa Park. The announcement of the new deal is expected after the weekend once all terms have been finalized.
Emery, who has managed Villa since October 2022, would welcome the chance to deepen his involvement in shaping the club's development over multiple years. Negotiations are continuing regarding specific contract details, financial terms, and the duration of the agreement. According to ESPN, the club's statement did not confirm that Emery had already signed a new contract; rather, reporting indicated the agreement was close, while Villa confirmed a commitment to work with him beyond 2029.
On Wednesday evening, Villa issued an official statement confirming that a meeting had occurred between Emery, club chairman Nassef Sawiris, and executives Roberto Olabe and Damian Vidagany. The club stated:
The discussions focused on jointly planning the club's long-term strategic direction, with positive discussions establishing a clear commitment beyond 2029 for the joint development of the club under the sporting leadership of Unai Emery based on the shared ambitions and common goal to reach excellency and keep growing during the next years. The objective is clear: to build an ambitious, competitive Aston Villa capable of taking on the biggest challenges and achievements.
According to The Athletic, Emery's current deal followed a five-year contract signed in May 2024, marking his second extension since joining Villa in October 2022. The same source reported that Villa's football operations executives Roberto Olabe and Damián Vidagany were also discussing new deals as part of the club's broader strategic planning.
How has Emery transformed Villa?
The 54-year-old has fundamentally reshaped the club since his arrival, elevating them from a side battling relegation to one that now qualifies for European competition annually under his management. In May, his team won the Europa League—Villa's first major trophy in three decades—cementing his status as one of the club's most successful managers in recent history. The Spaniard previously managed Sevilla, Paris St-Germain, and Arsenal before joining Villa from Villarreal.
What is Villa's current position?
Despite a challenging summer in which several key players from their fourth-place Premier League finish and Europa League-winning squad were sold, Villa have demonstrated resilience in the current campaign. They currently sit 10th in the Premier League and have won three of their four opening matches in the Champions League, showing their ability to compete at the highest level despite significant squad changes.
What about the Manchester United speculation?
Emery has been linked with a potential move to Manchester United should the club decide to part ways with manager Michael Carrick. However, with a contract already in place until 2029 and now close to extending further, such a move appears increasingly unlikely. Villa's signal of commitment to Emery suggests the club views him as central to their ambitions for years to come. Villa has signaled for several months that they wanted to renew Emery's contract and continue his project at the club, according to reporting on the negotiations.
The manager's future at Villa Park has also been a topic of public discussion. Villa threatened pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher with legal action last month after he suggested Emery would be a suitable candidate if Manchester United were seeking a new manager. Carragher also told Villa supporters to "shut up" in his commentary. However, Villa withdrew the threat after Carragher issued an apology.
What happens next?
Aston Villa are scheduled to play Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, 8 November 2026, at 4:30 p.m. UK time, providing Emery with an opportunity to demonstrate Villa's competitive standing against one of England's traditional powerhouses. The new contract announcement is expected to come after this fixture once all final details have been confirmed between the club and manager.
