Best signings at Aston Villa since Unai Emery joined the club

A look at Emery’s time in charge.

Transcript

00:00Charlie, looking at Aston Villa and obviously, you know, it's good to look back and reflect

00:05on Unai Emery's time in charge and an amazing sort of transformation at the club since he

00:12came in. But in terms of the players who've represented the side, you know, wore those

00:16Villa colours and got them to so many fantastic moments so far. Who's been the best sort of

00:22new addition, you know, whether it's value for money or having an amazing connection

00:29with the club and the fan base? Who sort of stands out for you in there?

00:32Well, there are so many, to be honest with you. Emery's not been here long, merely a

00:36couple of years and a month or two at the time of recording. It's been really special

00:42to see just how well he's brought in recruitment-wise. One player that's really stood out for me

00:47is Uri Tielemans. Coming in on a free transfer in summer 2023 from Leicester City, getting

00:54ready to go to the Championship, he wanted to move on and go to find a new club. So many

00:58different potential suitors, Villa were the ones who were able to snap him up. And he

01:02took a little while to get going. And he definitely wasn't on form for most of last season. But

01:08towards the end of it, he was picking up a new position just behind the striker and then

01:12moving into a midfield double pivot when Boubacar Kamara was injured. And now this campaign,

01:16he's really stood into his own and progressed into the player. A lot of people thought he

01:20would become such a talented player with so much potential, his creative ability, his

01:25passing range, and the way he just steps away from the press as well. He doesn't seem

01:29to be impacted by it whatsoever. So many high-pressing teams in the Premier League, and he's become

01:34one of Emery's key players. So very impressed by him.

01:37Paul Torres, for about £30 million, one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the

01:42world, let alone just in Europe. He has shown signs of inconsistency at times, and maybe

01:47his form has dropped off at the start of the season. But on the whole, what a signing that

01:52is and represents great value as well.

01:55John Duran, £13 million from Chicago Fire. It took him a little while as well to get

02:00going, but now he's renowned as one of the best impact substitutes in the Premier League,

02:05one of the best young talents in the English top flight as well. Just 20 years of age and

02:10expected to become even better. So powerful, so ruthless in front of goal. He shoots from

02:15anywhere. He's such an exciting player to watch, and he's provided some very special

02:19moments as well.

02:21What about Morgan Rodgers? Obviously given his England call-up in the November international

02:27break, an amazing achievement for him. He's clearly had a lot of experience at a variety

02:32of different clubs before he's hit this peak, but only 22 and the future looks so, so bright

02:38for him.

02:39Yeah, he's been in incredible form. The way he turns away from defenders has such confidence

02:43to take them on as well. He's been one of Villa's standout players and he's really settled

02:48in better than Emery could have ever hoped.