Aston Villa Targets Aaron Wan-Bissaka for Right-Back Upgrade
Unai Emery has circled one position in red ink this summer: right-back.
Aston Villa’s head coach wants a squad that can go the distance on several fronts, and he believes upgrading competition for Matty Cash is essential if Villa are to live comfortably among Europe’s elite. On that shortlist of options, one name has moved to the top – Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Emery’s defensive puzzle
Emery’s system leans heavily on full-backs who can adapt, shuffle inside, lock down wide areas and still offer an outlet in transition. Wan-Bissaka’s reputation as one of the game’s standout one-on-one defenders makes him an obvious fit for that brief, and The Athletic reports that Villa view the 28-year-old as a primary target.
Villa’s interest has hardened after other avenues closed. A move for Flamengo defender Emerson Royal, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, never got off the ground. With that door shut, Villa’s recruitment team have turned their attention firmly towards Wan-Bissaka as they attempt to build a group ready for Champions League football, off the back of last season’s Europa League triumph and a fourth-place Premier League finish.
West Ham’s slide opens the door
Circumstances at West Ham United have shifted dramatically. Relegation to the Championship for the first time since the 2011-12 season has forced a reset in east London, and the club are understood to be open to letting Wan-Bissaka leave.
He featured 27 times in all competitions last season, registering three assists, but his influence waned when it mattered most. Across West Ham’s final seven league matches, he started only twice, often watching on as Kyle Walker-Peters got the nod instead. For a defender of his pedigree, that represents a stark comedown.
Any deal will not be straightforward. Wan-Bissaka is tied to the London Stadium until 2031, having signed a seven-year contract when he joined from Manchester United in a £15 million move. West Ham’s valuation is high, and Villa would need to decide how far they are prepared to push for a player who would initially arrive as competition for Cash rather than a guaranteed starter.
Club struggles, international rise
While West Ham faltered, Wan-Bissaka’s stock on the international stage climbed. He started all four of DR Congo’s matches at this summer’s World Cup, delivering a series of composed, defensively assured displays that drew admiring glances from scouts.
Those performances served as a reminder of the defender who once made himself indispensable at Old Trafford. During five seasons with Manchester United, Wan-Bissaka made 190 appearances and became a cornerstone of sides that lifted the EFL Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup in 2023-24. His tackling, timing and ability to shut down wingers in isolation turned him into one of Europe’s most trusted defensive full-backs.
Now, with Villa pushing to cement their place among the Premier League’s top tier and West Ham bracing for life in the second division, the question is simple: does Emery see Wan-Bissaka as the final piece in a backline built for Champions League nights?
