Our Fantasy Premier League (FPL) 2026/27 team previews continue with a focus on Unai Emery’s Aston Villa.
In this article, we discuss their best FPL picks for the upcoming campaign, predict the line-up for Gameweek 1, review pre-season, detail their set-piece takers, assess the summer transfer activity and more.
REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL
THE MANAGER
Since Emery arrived in 2022, only Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool have amassed more points than Aston Villa.
The Spaniard’s task seems to get harder each year due to Villa’s constraints in the transfer market, yet the club has been on an upward trajectory ever since his appointment.
In 2025/26, Villa finished fourth and won the Europa League, offering optimism ahead of the new season, which is largely down to Emery.
NEW ARRIVALS…
It has been a busy summer at Villa Park.
Joao Gomes (£5.5m), Johan Manzambi (£6.0m) and Alejandro Garnacho (£6.0m) have already arrived, while Atletico Madrid’s Matteo Ruggeri is reportedly on the verge of a move.
Manzambi looks like a real prospect, having impressed for Switzerland at the World Cup, with five attacking returns (three goals, two assists) in four matches.
Manzambi is currently out with an injury, but there were still positive signs in Wednesday’s Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain.
Gomes was a menace in the middle of the park, John McGinn (£5.5m) served up some superb delicious crosses from the right, while youngsters George Hemmings (£4.5m) and Brian Madjo (£5.5m) both looked the part, suggesting they could have roles to play this year.
Emiliano Martinez (£5.0m), Ezri Konsa (£4.5m) and Ollie Watkins (£8.0m) have also recently returned to pre-season training.
REASONS TO BE FEARFUL
… BUT KEY DEPARTURES
Three months on from Villa’s Europa League victory, and plenty has changed.
Three key players from that starting XI – Morgan Rogers (£7.5m), Youri Tielemans (£6.0m) and Lucas Digne – have all departed.
Some of the coaching staff, including Pako Ayesteran and Austin MacPhee, have also left.
Throw in Amadou Onana’s (£5.0m) ACL injury, which will keep him out for nine months, and Villa may face a tricky transition period.
LACK OF ATTACKING DEPTH?
Firstly, Emery has recently said Villa’s transfer business isn’t done.
However, given Manzambi’s injury and the uncertainty about his return date, the attacking midfield options currently look a bit thin.
McGinn is first choice, while Emiliano Buendia (£6.0m) and Garnacho should have key roles to play in the early weeks. But there isn’t much depth beyond youngsters Hemmings and Alysson (£5.0m), particularly after Evann Guessand’s (£5.5m) move to Crystal Palace. Leon Bailey’s (£5.5m) time at Villa Park is surely nearing its end, too.
In contrast, there are no such issues up top, with Watkins, Tammy Abraham (£5.5m) and Madjo all able to lead the line.
Villa are being linked with plenty of names, but it all feels a bit light in some attacking areas.
ASTON VILLA: SUMMER TRANSFER ACTIVITY
Key Transfers In:
| DEF | Modou Keba Cisse | LASK (£4m) |
| MID | Joao Gomes | Wolverhampton Wanderers (£38m) |
| MID | Johan Manzambi | Freiburg (£50m) |
| MID | Alejandro Garnacho | Chelsea (Loan) |
Key Transfers Out:
| MID | Donyell Malen | Roma (£21.6m) |
| MID | Enzo Barranechea | Benfica (£10.3m) |
| MID | Youri Tielemans | Manchester United (£35m) |
| DEF | Andres Garcia | Getafe (loan) |
| MID | Morgan Rogers | Chelsea (£117m) |
| DEF | Lucas Digne | Paris St-Germain (£8.5m) |
| MID | Evann Guessand | Crystal Palace (loan) |
Joao Gomes, Manzambi and Garnacho have all joined during the summer transfer window. Ruggeri should complete his move from Atletico Madrid shortly as well.
However, with Tielemans, Rogers and Digne having left, Villa still have plenty of work to do to strengthen their squad.
ASTON VILLA: PRE-SEASON FPL REPORTS
Pre-Season Fixtures/Results
| Jul 21 | Walsall 0-5 Aston Villa (a) | Madjo (Nedeljković assist), Hemmings (Buendia assist), Madjo (Buendia assist), Lynch, Borland (Lynch assist) |
| Jul 25 | Porto 2-1 Aston Villa (a) | Lynch (Bogarde assist) |
| Jul 28 | Aston Villa 2-4 Real Sociedad (n) | Hemmings (Maatsen assist), Madjo (Buendia assist) |
| Aug 1 | Indonesia All Stars 1-3 Aston Villa (a) | Buendia (Nedeljković assist), Barkley, Madjo (Lynch assist) |
| Aug 4 | Pathum United 1-3 Aston Villa (a) | Buendia (Cash assist), Lindelof (Alysson assist), Kamara (Hemmings assist) |
| Aug 7 | Aston Villa 1-2 Bayern Munich (n) | Gomes (Burrowes assist) |
| Aug 12 | Aston Villa 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain (n) | Madjo (McGinn assist) |
| Aug 15 | Borussia Monchengladbach v Aston Villa (a) |
Form Players: Madjo (5 goals), Buendia (2 goals, 3 assists), Lynch (2 goals, 2 assists), Hemmings (2 goals, 1 assist), Nedeljković (2 assists)
OPENING FIXTURES
Let’s be honest, the first two fixtures aren’t great.
Brighton and Hove Albion and Arsenal were the two best defences for expected goals conceded (xGC) from Gameweek 19 last season.
Perhaps Gameweeks 3-6 will be a better time to jump on players from Emery’s side.
However, it is important to note that Brighton will have to travel to the Arctic Circle for the Conference League just three days prior to their match against Villa, who notably beat Arsenal 2-1 on home turf last season.
PENALTY + SET-PIECE TAKERS
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