Can Aston Villa crack the Premier League top four in 2025/26?

Aston Villa ended the 2024/25 Premier League season in sixth, securing 66 points and narrowly missing out on a Champions League finish.

Under manager Unai Emery, the club also managed to reach the quarter-finals of Europe’s top club competition in their first appearance in decades, while doing well on the domestic cup front too.

A somewhat defining moment came in the January transfer window of last season, when Villa brought in several impactful mid-season signings. Marco Asensio arrived on loan from PSG, Marcus Rashford joined temporarily from Manchester United, and Axel Disasi was loaned in from Chelsea. Among them, Asensio stood out, scoring 8 goals in 21 appearances, quickly becoming a creative spark and bringing Champions League-winning experience to the squad.

The impact of these signings was clear as Villa pulled themselves within striking distance of the top four. Their form in crucial matches underlined just how much the January arrivals had made. Premier League betting suggests that with smart transfer activity this summer, akin to the work done in January, Villa’s chances of finishing in the top four will improve.

Why the top four Is within reach

Unai Emery’s experience

Emery’s managerial pedigree and the signings he’s made since joining the club have been transformative. Villa are now a team regularly playing in Europe. And Emery’s leadership and tactical nous are a key part of that.

Proven impact of signings

Aston Villa have a great record when it comes to signings making an impact. As seen last season, with the players arriving in both the summer and January windows.

Solid core of stars

Players like Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers, and Ollie Watkins remain assets and are part of a strong core and spine of stars in Villa’s starting XI.

European exposure

Having competed in the Champions League, Villa gained invaluable experience on the European stage. That exposure, coupled with Emery’s experience in these settings, positions them better for the upcoming season.

What Villa must do this summer

Villa haven’t seen any key departures or arrivals take place so far. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez keeps being linked with a move away, as does striker Ollie Watkins, so there must be some clarity on the futures of two of Villa’s star men.

The bottom line is that Villa need to get busy in the transfer market. The players they loaned in have now left, so there are spaces to fill. They must add quality to improve, as the teams around them, such as Chelsea, are doing exactly that. If Villa fail to follow suit, they could be left behind, and the top four, or even the top five, could be out of reach.

Conclusion

Despite narrowly missing out in 2024/25, Aston Villa remain credible challengers for the top four this season. There are things they can do as a club to boost their chances, such as retaining key players and adding more quality. If they do so, they will likely be one of the front-runners to secure Champions League football via league finish, especially with Unai Emery in the dugout.