Aston Villa

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We asked for your views on what one thing needs to change at Aston Villa before the new campaign and why.

Here are some of your comments:

Matt: The Villa squad needs depth. Our best XI is a match for any team in the league, as was shown on our great run earlier in the season, but a few injuries left us slow, passive and leaky. Good backups across the pitch would help take us to the next level and is especially important if we're to compete in the Champions League and the Premier League at the same time. That, and a right winger, and we're golden.

Andy: Paradigm shift in my thinking since we won a trophy - keep as many as we can and add strength in depth. New creativity on both wings and a right-back is enough.

Chay: The quality of players on the bench. We had a midfield crisis with Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans injured and had to rely on just Douglas Luiz, Lamare Bogarde and Amadou Onana. Their quality in midfield wasn't great and just shows, especially when Unai Emery played Victor Lindelof, as a defender who was outstanding in midfield, over all three of them. We need to get rid of these benchwarmers and have players who can disrupt Emery's strong XI.

Dennice: We should get all our main transfers done by August so the players can gel in well in time and adapt to Emery-ball. We need reinforcements in every department; goalkeeping, defence, midfield and attack. All of which should be done before we play PSG in the Super Cup.

Stephen: We need a striker who can bag 20-25 goals in the league. This would help with trying to maintain ourselves in the top five. I would suggest that we try to get Igor Thiago from Brentford as previous recruitment from there has been good.

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Europa League winners Aston Villa have added pre-season friendly matches against Walsall and German club Villa to face Walsall and Borussia Monchengladbach to their pre-season schedule.

Unai Emery's side will make the short trip to face League Two Walsall on Tuesday, 21 July at 19:30 BST.

Villa will also travel to Germany to face Monchengladbach on Saturday, 15 August, the weekend before the 2026-27 Premier League campaign begins.

Monchengladbach finished 12th in the Bundesliga in 2025-26.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

With all 48 World Cup squads now confirmed, we look at how they shape up and compare with each other leading into the tournament.

Which clubs have the most players?

Looking just at the 20 clubs that made up the 2025-26 Premier League, only this season's top three have more players at the World Cup than Conference League winners Crystal Palace (12).

Including players out on loan over the season, Sunderland remarkably have as many representatives on the global stage as Chelsea and Liverpool (11), showing just how globe-trotting their recruitment was following promotion last summer.

The majority of Brentford, Everton and Leeds' squads can put their feet up and recharge their batteries for next season, with those clubs sending just four players each.

• Get more key stats on participation

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We asked for your views on whether Aston Villa should cash in on Morgan Rogers with reports that he is wanted by other Premier League clubs and whether Manchester City's Phil Foden could be a suitable replacement for him.

Here are some of your comments:

Joe: Villa should try their hardest to keep Rogers. Instead of "moving heaven and earth" to get Foden - who I don't think is on Rogers' level - they should move heaven and earth to keep Rogers. He is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League at the moment, which is clear because of the interest he is getting. So keep Morgan.

Simon: In my heart, not a chance! However, that being said, look at how the money from selling Jack Grealish helped to transform us. Overall, I would hope Rogers gives us another season and then cash in if we qualify for Champions League football again. UTV.

Paul: Foden to replace Rogers? I sincerely hope not!

Prit: In a word, NO. Foden is a very good player but he is not as good as Rogers. The last time we brought in a player from Manchester City (Stephen Ireland as the makeweight in the James Milner sale), it was a disaster. Rogers has a five-year contract so there is no obligation to sell, but if he is to go, the price MUST be in excess of £125m, not the quoted "in excess of £80m" by certain journalists. In fact, Aston Villa should build a team around Rogers so we can seriously contend for senior honours.

Rob: I know Rogers has been inconsistent at times but we must not sell him because he's one of only a few signings Unai Emery's made that gets into his best XI. Otherwise our recruitment has been hit and miss. We struggled the season we sold Grealish for £100m, even with three expensive signings, and I could see us going the same way again if Rogers leaves this summer.

Luke: No thanks to Foden. Would be astronomically expensive wage-wise and he's too lightweight. We need someone taller and stronger in that role - someone like Rogers.

MChopper: Villa should just get Foden anyway and keep Rogers. Job done. We need to grow, not stay the same.

Tony: Rogers isn't going anywhere unless you're looking at a record bid. He is the best young attacking midfielder in the Premier League based on output, but more his potential and physicality. So anything short of what was spent on Alexander Isak, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo is an insult. £150m and then maybe Villa will be tempted, but please stop with the £80m nonsense.

The 2026-27 Premier League season will be here before we know it, with the first matches taking place on Saturday, 22 August.

We have a simple question for you - what one thing needs to change at your club before the new campaign and why?

It can be a player, manager, ticketing issue, owner, or wider change.

Let us know in detail here

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Aston Villa striker Tammy Abraham has undergone surgery.

The 28-year-old posted an image of himself lying in a hospital bed along with the words "op done" on his Instagram stories on Wednesday evening.

Abraham can be seen wearing an arm sling and it appears he has undergone shoulder surgery.

The striker, signed in January for £18.2m from Besiktas, has not played since early May and was on the bench for key fixtures such as the Europa League semi-final second leg against Nottingham Forest and subsequent final win over Freiburg.

AC Milan have emerged as serious contenders to sign Crysencio Summerville, 24, from West Ham, with the Dutch winger also attracting interest from Aston Villa and Tottenham. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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With a number of Premier League clubs eyeing up a move for Morgan Rogers this summer, BBC Radio WM's Daz Hale believes Manchester City's Phil Foden could be an ideal replacement and Aston Villa "should move heaven and earth" to sign him.

Rogers made 55 appearances in all competitions in 2025-26, scoring 14 goals and contributing 12 assists, while Foden featured 50 times in all competitions this campaign, netting 10 goals and registering seven assists.

According to BBC Sport's senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel, Rogers could cost in excess of £80m this summer, but is now the right time for Villa to cash in on one of their most valuable assets?

"The club has already said that every summer they will have to do some wheeling and dealing because of the constant battle with PSR," Hale explained on BBC Radio WM's Summer Sport programme.

"They have spent a lot of money on wages of late, with people like Jadon Sancho on £300,000-a-week and Harvey Elliott being on whatever amount he is on.

"When it comes to Morgan Rogers, if he decides now is the time for him to make the step up in his mind to another club, whether that is here or abroad, I would take the money.

"Then I would be going to Manchester City and trying to bring Phil Foden to Villa Park. He needs a fresh start after not being able to get into the World Cup squad. There is probably going to be a bit of evolution at Manchester City anyway, after Pep Guardiola's departure.

"So, if the club lose Rogers, they should move heaven and earth to get Foden. He would be a superstar at Villa. He would also be back in the England team in no time."

BBC Radio WM's Mike Taylor added: "Villa don't need to sell Rogers, but it is the most likely route to achieving what they need next season, which is a better squad.

"Although the current squad is bigger and tougher than it was two years ago, which is why they were able to sustain their push to the end of the Europa League, they are going to need it to be better to achieve their ambitions."

What do you think? Should Villa cash in on Rogers? Would you back a move for Foden to replace him?

Get in touch with your views here

Aston Villa are aware of interest in attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers from a number of clubs, including Arsenal, but have no intention of selling the 23-year-old England international. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick, sporting director Deco and president Joan Laporta remain keen to sign Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis amid interest from Aston Villa, Bayern Munich, Newcastle and Tottenham in the 28-year-old England international. (The I), external

Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund are interested in Club Brugge's German striker Nicolo Tresoldi, 21, after a prolific season in Belgium. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

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In a new BBC Sport documentary, James Milner reflects on a career that has ended at 40, after making a record 658 Premier League appearances with six different clubs.

Team-mates and coaches reveal the drive behind 24 years at the top.

Watch below or on BBC iPlayer here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Aston Villa are looking to move into a new era.

A Europa League win over Freiburg earned the club's first trophy in 30 years while they also sealed a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Manager Unai Emery delivered Champions League qualification for the second time in three seasons as he made good on his promise to bring silverware to Villa Park.

They are looking to challenge the established order in the top flight, having worked under strict financial restrictions.

After a historic campaign how do Villa move to the next level?

It has felt like Villa have gatecrashed a party they have not been invited to.

They have finished fourth, sixth and fourth in the past three seasons. How to continue that is the question.

Emery's team is getting older but, under him they have disrupted the top order consistently more than others.

In order to remain competitive Villa are expected to trade and, before the Europa League win, there was a growing belief the current squad had come to the end of its lifespan.

That has been challenged since the triumph in Istanbul and while the plan is to add more depth to be able to compete on all fronts, wholesale changes of the protagonists are not expected.

Although, there has been a previous willingness to allow goalkeeper Emi Martinez to leave, with interest in Manchester City's James Trafford.

Villa will still need to raise money to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial regulations, with Morgan Rogers the obvious big sale if needed and a top target for Arsenal.

In terms of incomings, a winger and a right-back, who can also play centre-back, are high on the agenda with Andres Garcia expected to move to Valencia after struggling to make an impact.

There have also been thoughts about revamping the left-back role with more physicality, while another body in midfield is desired.

Villa have also been long-term admirers of Newcastle United's Harvey Barnes.

They would be interested should the Magpies be willing to cut a deal but there is the expectation, after Barnes' 16 goals this season and Anthony Gordon's Barcelona move, he will not be available on the cheap.

There lies one of the problems for Villa. In order to improve they will need to spend and the recognition is the players who would elevate them would cost at least £40m.

Read the full article here

Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand, 24, is considering his options after the expiry of a clause in his loan from Aston Villa to Crystal Palace to make the move permanent. (Evening Standard), external

Aston Villa are willing to let Spanish right-back Andres Garcia, 23, leave the club on loan in the summer, with Valencia and Elche among the interested clubs. (Tribuna Deportiva - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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We asked for your memories of James Milner in an Aston Villa shirt after the midfielder announced his retirement from playing, bringing the end to a glittering 24-year Premier League career.

Here are some of your comments:

Robert: I remember Milly's last game with Villa. He knew he was going to Manchester City and yet he gave his best performance in a Villa shirt, flying into tackles and covering every blade of glass until he was substituted late on to a standing ovation. I think he may even have scored. Always a Villan despite having spent much of his career elsewhere. A model professional in an era when for many players it's all about the money.

Shak: What a player he was for Villa. An absolute beast in that Martin O'Neill side back then. Got stuck in, drove teams forward, scored and assisted. The game that stands out the most? The crazy cup game against Blackburn. He was sensational. Good luck for the future, James.

Prit: Milner was a great player for Villa and I was very sorry when he left. If he had stayed, Villa could have really challenged at the top. Every time he came back to Villa Park, he always received a great reception - a real testament of the man.

Elliot: Remember him scoring the penalty in the 2010 League Cup final as I watched from a pub in Sheffield, surrounded by Manchester United fans. The feeling didn't last, of course, as we went on to lose 2-1, but he had me on cloud nine right up until half-time. Wishing him all the best in retirement.

Dean: Best memories of Milner when playing for Villa are his work-rate and just giving his all.

Neil: I remember Milner's deal to join City was pretty much already done, yet he still played for Villa in the first game of the season versus West Ham. Although an injury may have scuppered the deal, he gave a totally committed performance in the centre of midfield - scoring a goal to top it off. What a brilliant professional. I wish him all the best in the future.

James Milner has called time on a remarkable a 24-year Premier League career, in which he has clocked up numerous impressive and record-breaking statistics.

He made 964 senior appearances for both club and country, with his 658 Premier League appearances the most of any player in competition history.

He is both the youngest and second-oldest Premier League goalscorer, and is 10th in the competition's assist charts, providing 90 across his 658 appearances.

Those 90 assists were for 47 different players in the Premier League, with Liverpool's Roberto Firmino benefitting from more Milner assists than anyone else (10).

Among the records Milner holds during the Premier League era, there is the the most substitute appearances by a player (218), while only eight players have more than his 13 goals as a substitute in the competition.

His 658 Premier League appearances came across six different clubs and in February he became only the fourth outfielder in the competition's history to start a match in his 40s.

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Former Aston Villa midfielder James Milner has announced his retirement from playing, bringing the end to a glittering 24-year Premier League career.

The 40-year-old, who had a loan spell at Villa Park in 2005-06 before signing a permanent deal in 2008, played for six different teams in England's top flight.

After making his Premier League debut for Leeds United as a 16-year-old in 2002, he went on to break the record for the most Premier League appearances.

Milner, who could play on the wing, in midfield and at full-back, won three Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Super Cup, two FA Cups, two Carabao Cups, two Community Shields and the Club World Cup throughout his career.

He posted a farewell message on Instagram, external, which read: "After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career.

"From making my debut for Leeds United, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League's youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I have been on, right through to not being able to lift my foot last year and then coming back to be part of Brighton qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.

"To have gone on to represent Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton - and not forgetting a memorable month at Swindon Town - has been an incredible privilege.

"Every club has played a huge role in my life and career, and I want to thank everyone involved - the owners, staff, coaches, teammates and supporters who welcomed me and helped me along the way.

"I have been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country England at two European Championships and two World Cups.

"But more than anything, it is the people and friendships I have made throughout the game that I'll cherish forever.

"To the fans, thank you. To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you'll ever know. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too - you all played your part in making the journey memorable and helping shape me as a player and person.

"To my family, thank you for every sacrifice, every mile travelled and every moment of encouragement. None of this would have been possible without you.

"I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Football has given me far more than I could ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.

"Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey."

As Milner calls time on his playing career, we want your input. What were his best moments in an Aston Villa shirt, and what are your favourite memories?

Get in touch with your comments here

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has set his sights on Aston Villa's England winger Morgan Rogers, 23, as he bids to build on their Premier League title success although Champions League winners Paris St-Germain are also interested. (Mirror), external

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Aston Villa now know they will play Paris St-Germain in the 2026 Super Cup final.

Unai Emery's Europa League-winning side are set to face Luis Enrique's double Champions League winners at Stadion Salzburg in Austria on Wednesday, 12 August (20:00 BST).

The confirmation comes after PSG denied Arsenal a first Champions League title in Budapest on Saturday, with the French giants lifting the trophy for the second year in a row.

It will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2024-25 Champions League quarter-final, which Aston Villa lost 5-4 on aggregate.

After ending a 44-year wait for a European trophy with a glorious 3-0 win over Freiburg on 20 May, the Villans will be looking to lift the Super Cup for the second time, having beaten Barcelona 3-1 over a two-legged final in 1982.

Brazil and Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara, 26, has responded positively to interest from Aston Villa.(Sabah - in Turkish), external

Meanwhile, Villa are also keen on Real Betis' 24-year-old Morocco winger Abde Ezzalzouli, as are Newcastle United and Tottenham. (Sport - in Spanish), external

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We asked for your views on who Aston Villa should sign from the relegated Premier League sides Wolves,Burnley and West Ham United.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Chris: Crysencio Summerville from West Ham would be a very good addition to the squad. We need a wide player with pace and he ticks both boxes.

James: Mateus Fernandes from West Ham is a key player to pick up from the relegated teams, but he won't be short of suitors. Nor will Jarrod Bowen. Not much else from Burnley and Wolves… if they can't keep a team in the Premier League, would they be good enough for the Champions League?

Vinny: I don't think we should be just looking at relegated clubs. There are some lower Premier League teams that have not maybe matched their players' expectations and we should be looking there. I'm thinking Micky Van de Ven at Spurs and Joao Pedro at Chelsea.

George: I'd take Mateus Mane from Wolves. The only player that looked half decent in that team and could be available cheap. Summerville is another one to look at but I think there will be better options, such as Harry Wilson on a free from Fulham.

Sam: Bowen from West Ham and Wilson from Fulham would really help up front. Wilson looks keen, along with Harvey Barnes from Newcastle. Whether Bowen would be able to leave the Hammers or not is up for debate, his new father-in-law might be a factor in that decision! Kyle Walker has good Champions League pedigree and would help as a substitute for Matty Cash, and a return to the Premier League for West Ham's Callum Wilson might be a good option. I would have liked to have seen Van de Ven from Spurs if they had gone down too, but that's life.

Lee: Summerville and Bowen should be top of the Villa shopping list. We're in need of more depth out wide and haven't had a winger who strikes fear into full-backs for quite some years. Both are capable of beating a man and contributing to goals and would fit in well with our system.

Josh: I think that we HAVE to get Bowen. He is such a good player, fits Unai Emery's playing style and will get the goal contributions too. We haven't had a goalscoring winger like him for years and he would be so, so good for us. I also think we should try and steal Andre from Wolves, as we need a solid defensive midfielder if Douglas Luiz goes back to Juventus.

Craigy: It's got to be Bowen. Every time we played against West Ham, he's been a nuisance. Get him at a cut price. Great competitive cover for Emi Buendia and Morgan Rodgers, or play all three behind Ollie Watkins.