Unai Emery Targets Aaron Wan-Bissaka for Aston Villa's Right-Back Upgrade
Unai Emery has made his mind up. If Aston Villa are going to live comfortably among Europe’s elite, the right-back position has to be upgraded – or at the very least, seriously challenged.
Emery’s search for a new anchor on the right
Matty Cash remains the current first-choice, a trusted part of Villa’s rise, but Emery wants sharper competition on that flank as he builds a squad to fight on several fronts next season. The club’s recruitment team has turned its focus to Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has emerged as a leading candidate on their shortlist, as reported by The Athletic.
At 28, Wan-Bissaka offers something Emery values deeply: defensive authority. His one-on-one defending, recovery tackles and positional discipline are seen as a perfect match for the tactical demands placed on Villa’s backline. Emery wants full-backs who can lock down a side of the pitch, then adapt to different shapes and game plans. Wan-Bissaka’s profile fits that brief.
This push comes after other attempts to strengthen the same area stalled earlier in the window. A move for Flamengo’s Emerson Royal, the former Tottenham Hotspur defender, never got off the ground. With that avenue closed, Villa’s attention has hardened on alternative options – and Wan-Bissaka sits near the top of that list.
Villa’s Champions League step – and West Ham’s reality check
Villa’s ambition is clear. Fresh from a Europa League triumph and a superb fourth-place finish in the Premier League, they are building a squad they believe can cope with the demands of Champions League football. Depth is no longer a luxury; it is a requirement.
On the other side of the equation, West Ham United are dealing with a very different landscape. Relegation to the Championship has dragged the east London club into territory they have not visited since the 2011-12 season. That drop has inevitably reshaped their stance on several players.
Wan-Bissaka is one of them. West Ham are understood to be open to a sale, aware that a high valuation could help stabilise the club as they prepare for life outside the top flight. The defender made 27 appearances in all competitions last season, chipping in with three assists, but his influence faded as the campaign wore on.
From starter to understudy – and a possible reset
The shift in Wan-Bissaka’s status was stark. He started only two of West Ham’s final seven league matches, regularly losing his place to Kyle Walker-Peters. For a player once regarded as one of the Premier League’s most reliable defensive full-backs, that represented a significant comedown.
A move to Villa would mark a clear change in fortunes. It would mean a return to the Champions League stage, a fresh tactical project under Emery and the chance to re-establish himself as a first-choice defender at the highest level.
Any deal, though, will not be straightforward. Wan-Bissaka’s contract at the London Stadium runs until 2031, the result of a seven-year agreement signed when he joined from Manchester United in a £15 million move. That length of commitment gives West Ham leverage, even in the Championship.
International stature and Old Trafford pedigree
While his club form has fluctuated, Wan-Bissaka’s standing with DR Congo has remained strong. He started all four of their matches at this summer’s World Cup, delivering performances that drew attention from scouts across Europe. On the international stage, he still looks like the relentless one-on-one defender who first built his reputation.
That reputation was forged at Old Trafford. During five seasons with Manchester United, Wan-Bissaka made 190 appearances and became a regular in sides that collected major domestic trophies. He played his part in the club’s EFL Cup win in 2022-23 and the FA Cup triumph in 2023-24, anchoring the right side of the defence with his trademark tackling and recovery work.
Those years at United, followed by his stint in London and his prominence with DR Congo, form the backdrop to Villa’s interest. Emery is not chasing potential; he is targeting a proven defender who knows the demands of English football and European competition.
Now the question is simple: will Villa turn that admiration into a decisive bid, and can Wan-Bissaka’s next move pull him back into the heart of the Champions League conversation?
