Unai Emery, speaking from Aston Villa’s U.S. training camp in Nashville, has expressed hope of adding to his squad this month, while emphasizing that the foundation and balance of the team are more important than simply making signings.
Villa’s transfer activity has been restricted this summer due to Premier League and UEFA financial regulations, which tie club spending to overall revenue. Last summer, they avoided a potential points deduction by selling Douglas Luiz and offloading their women’s team ahead of the financial year-end.
This year, Villa have agreed with UEFA to reduce their wage bill, both this season and next, in line with squad cost ratio rules, limiting their ability to offer high salaries. As a result, just two players have arrived – one being youngster Zepiqueno Redmond, who could head out on loan, and the other, goalkeeper Marco Bizot from Stade Brest, signed to replace Robin Olsen.
Villa kick off their Premier League campaign against Newcastle soon – another club facing similar Financial Fair Play constraints. Despite Newcastle’s Champions League qualification, they may lose star striker Alexander Isak, while Villa have managed to retain key players despite missing out on Europe’s top tier.
While a significant sale could open up the market for Villa, no suitable offers have been received for names like Emi Martinez or Jacob Ramsey. The club is also standing firm on keeping Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers.
Speaking exclusively to BirminghamLive, Emery said: “The commitment here is still incredibly strong. Our ambitions haven’t changed. This season, we’re ready for the challenge.”
“Playing in Europe adds another layer. We’ve competed in the Conference League and the Champions League – now, it’s the Europa League.”
“This competition is very important for me, for the players, and for the club. The Premier League, though, remains the top priority. It’s the toughest league in the world, and our focus is on being competitive.”
“We want to push in all competitions—the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, and in Europe. It’s part of our growth. I’m very motivated by what we’re building, especially with young players. Developing talent is key for our future.”
Villa’s total summer spending remains low, while the traditional “big six” clubs are expected to surpass £1bn combined in fees by window’s end. Villa’s ability to spend further may depend on outgoings.
Emery acknowledged the challenge: “Other teams like Tottenham, Manchester United, and Newcastle start with stronger claims to European places. They have the financial power to sign top players. But for us, the real strength is our structure.”
“We’re extending contracts, being smart about additions, and staying true to our long-term plan. Our aim is to stay competitive with those clubs, even if they’re expected to finish ahead of us.”
Emery also praised ownership group NSWE: “I’m very happy with how we’re progressing. The owners are supporting our strategy—on recruitment, training, and competing on four fronts. I’m very grateful for their backing, and the supporters have been incredible.”
Villa play their final U.S. pre-season match against Nashville on Saturday (4pm local, 10pm UK), after drawing with Frankfurt and beating St. Louis City. Earlier losses to Walsall and Hansa Rostock saw several youth players feature heavily due to missing senior players.
“We began pre-season with a lot of young players,” Emery explained. “It’s part of our responsibility—to expose them to first-team standards and help them understand our expectations.”
“Saturday’s game is our final chance to test fitness and fine-tune our system. The result is secondary. What matters now is how we build cohesion and identify the right players for our structure.”
“Nashville will challenge us. They’ll be motivated playing at home, and we’ll use that test to continue shaping our squad. Every game here helps us grow and prepare for what’s ahead.”
