Unai Emery signs five-year deal with Aston Villa after securing UCL spot

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has committed to a new five-year contract, the Premier League club announced on Monday, May 27.

The Spanish coach has been recognized for leading the Birmingham-based team to a fourth-place finish and securing a spot in the Champions League last season.

Emery, 52, has significantly turned Villa’s fortunes around since joining in October 2022 when the team was just three points above the relegation zone.

“I am very happy to take this step (signing a new contract) and the responsibility of leading this club,” Emery shared on Villa’s website.

“Since I joined Villa, with Wes (Edens) and Nassef (Sawiris), we have always found the best environment and structure to develop a project with the highest ambition.”

“There’s a great chemistry at Aston Villa, and the support from the fans makes it feel like home. We are really excited to continue this journey with no limits to our dreams.”

Villa chairman Nassef Sawiris added, “We are building something special here at Aston Villa with Unai at its core, and we are delighted that he has signed a new deal with the club until 2029.”

“As we enter our historic 150th anniversary year, there is much to look forward to with Unai at the helm.”

Emery is a four-time Europa League winner, having achieved success with Spanish clubs Sevilla and Villarreal. He also won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain and managed Arsenal for a year from 2018 to 2019.

Under his leadership, Villa finished seventh in the Premier League in 2023 and have now returned to European club football’s elite competition after more than 40 years.