Aston Villa manager Unai Emery confirmed on Wednesday that he has held talks with club chairman Nassef Sawiris about signing a new contract to strengthen the club’s long-term project at Villa Park.
The discussions followed Villa’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Barcelona on Tuesday and occurred the same day the club announced a meeting to review its strategy beyond 2029 — when Emery’s current contract expires. No new deal has been finalized, but Emery said further contract talks are scheduled for next week.
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Emery described the ambition as building “a stronger project” through infrastructure upgrades — including construction of a new stand at Villa Park — annual budget increases, revenue growth from European competition, and a sustainable player pathway: improving talent, selling players, and reinvesting in young prospects. He called the meeting with Sawiris “very good” and “very positive.”
Villa enters Sunday’s Premier League match at Old Trafford against Manchester United riding a five-match unbeaten run in all competitions. Manchester United have won just one of their first nine league matches — a victory over Ipswich Town in August. Villa have lost their last six matches at Old Trafford across all competitions.
Emery declined to downplay United’s quality, calling them “at the same level as Barcelona” and noting their strong Champions League form despite league inconsistency. He said Villa’s loss to Barcelona reflected the “highest level in the Champions League,” not a failure of preparation. He also acknowledged ongoing issues with missed chances and avoidable mistakes, saying some errors are “part of the process” but must be overcome.
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