Aston Villa open Emi Buendia contract talks with new deal on the table
Aston Villa have opened talks over a new contract for Emi Buendia, the Daily Mail reports, after the Argentine playmaker forced his way back into Unai Emery's plans. His current deal runs until June 2027, with Villa holding a 12-month option.
- Player: Emi Buendia
- Club: Aston Villa
- Contract situation: Current deal expires June 2027, with a club option for a further 12 months
- Status: Talks under way over a new deal, per the Daily Mail
- Key form: Scored in Villa's 3-2 Europa League final win over Freiburg and in the 3-2 win at Tottenham
- Age: Turns 30 on Christmas Day
Deal details
There is no transfer fee in play here: this is an internal contract negotiation, not a move to another club. Aston Villa are reported to be in talks with Buendia's representatives over a fresh agreement, with his existing terms running to June 2027 and the club also holding an option for a further 12 months.
Villa's motive is straightforward. They do not want the situation to drift, having seen Buendia go from a peripheral figure to a trusted attacker in a short space of time. The Daily Mail is the source for the talks, and no figures, length of the proposed new deal, or wage details have been reported.
What was said
"Everything that happened around him, he deserved it because he worked hard to recover his best form as a player."
"When we decided to keep him here, and he decided to stay here as well, I was confident he could get the numbers he is achieving."
Emery's comments cut to the heart of why this contract is being discussed. He is not praising attitude in the abstract; he is pointing at measurable output. The phrase "the numbers he is achieving" frames Buendia as a producer rather than a project. For a club competing on multiple fronts, that distinction matters when the decision-makers sit down to talk money.
The second quote also carries a quiet reminder about the decision-making process. Emery notes that Villa chose to keep him and the player chose to stay. That shared commitment has since been validated by performances, which strengthens the club's case for rewarding him now rather than waiting until the final phase of his existing agreement.
Buendia's Villa breakthrough in 2026
The turnaround has been stark. As recently as summer 2025, Buendia was described as so far down the pecking order that he was "even proposed to city rivals Birmingham". From that position, he has returned to the first-team conversation for all the right reasons.
His big moments have carried real weight. Buendia scored one of the goals of the season as Villa beat Freiburg 3-2 in Istanbul last May to win the Europa League, the club's first major trophy since 1996. He then produced another eye-catching strike in the 3-2 win at Tottenham before the international break, his third goal in as many matches at Spurs' ground.
That is the context Villa are weighing. A player who could have been moved on is now contributing in decisive matches, including a European final. The club's decision to open talks reflects that shift in status rather than any sentimental attachment to a name.
Why Villa are acting now on Buendia
Emi Buendia has become increasingly important to Unai Emery, and the timing of these talks is deliberate. With his contract running to June 2027 and a 12-month option beyond that, Villa still hold leverage. But allowing a player of his current influence to edge too close to the final year of his deal would weaken their position, both in negotiations and in the market.
On the pitch, Buendia offers something specific. He is a match-winner in tight games, as the Europa League final and the Tottenham away win demonstrate. Villa are competing on multiple fronts, and Emery needs depth with quality and personality rather than merely bodies. Buendia now looks like exactly that: a squad member who can change a result from the bench or from the start.
The age point is relevant but not decisive. He turns 30 on Christmas Day, which argues against a huge, emotional long-term contract. A sensible agreement would reward form, protect his value and keep a proven contributor at the club through the peak years of his late twenties and early thirties. That is standard squad building for a side with top-bracket ambitions.
Talking points
- Villa should tie Buendia down now, but only on a deal that reflects output rather than the Europa League goal alone. Sentiment is a poor guide at 30.
- The Birmingham proposal in summer 2025 looks like a serious misjudgement in hindsight, yet it also shows how quickly a squad player's value can swing.
- If Buendia keeps scoring at Tottenham and in Europe, his representatives will push for better terms. Villa's option year is their insurance policy.
- Rewarding a resurgent 30-year-old is fine, but Villa must avoid blocking minutes for younger attackers. Depth with quality means balance, not sentiment.
What happens next
Talks are under way, according to the Daily Mail, so the next concrete step is an agreement being reached and announced. Villa also hold a 12-month option, which gives them a fallback if negotiations take longer than expected. The stakes are straightforward: secure a proven contributor on sensible terms before his existing deal drifts into its final phase, or risk a more awkward conversation later.
Frequently asked questions
Is Emi Buendia signing a new Aston Villa contract?
Aston Villa have opened talks over a new deal, according to the Daily Mail. No agreement has been confirmed yet. His current contract runs until June 2027, with Villa holding an option for a further 12 months.
When does Emi Buendia's Aston Villa contract expire?
His current deal runs until June 2027. Aston Villa also hold an option to extend it by a further 12 months, which is why the club are keen to avoid the situation drifting.
Why are Aston Villa rewarding Emi Buendia now?
Because his form has returned. He scored one of the goals of the season in the 3-2 Europa League final win over Freiburg and netted in the 3-2 win at Tottenham, his third goal in as many matches at Spurs' ground.
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