Aston Villa are European champions once again. Olé, Olé, Olé.
Unai Emery’s brilliance had already secured a place in next year’s Champions League campaign for the Villans, but this is quite the sweetener for a project which has now been crowned with something tangible and gleaming.
The Second City is singing right now. And it will for some time yet, with this group of Villa players now immortal after beating Freiburg in Istanbul.
Now comes the gritty part: strengthening this squad while fighting off suitors for superstars such as Morgan Rogers.
The Latest on Rogers’ Aston Villa Future
Rogers was awarded the Europa League Player of the Season, instrumental in ending three decades of drought on the trophy front for Aston Villa. Emery views Rogers as a superstar, and it’s a sentiment shared by many.
Manchester United are interested in signing the £80m-rated England international this summer. While NSWE (Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens) will be confident that they will retain their focal creator’s services, they know they need to strengthen in that department regardless.
As per TEAMtalk, Aston Villa are joining Arsenal in the race for Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, who has struggled for a starring role in Pep Guardiola’s team this season.
Valued at £45m, the former AC Milan midfielder is also on Arsenal’s radar. However, a role in Aston Villa’s team—where he could stake a claim for a starting berth from the get-go—could help resurrect the Dutchman’s career.
Emery’s side are reportedly ‘open to a bid’ should they feel that Reijnders wants to make the move to Villa Park.
Why Reijnders Can Be Aston Villa’s New Rogers
Reijnders joined Manchester City from AC Milan last summer in a deal worth £46.5m, arriving with a reputation as one of the best midfielders in Italian football, if not the best.
Reijnders typically plays in the opposition half, utilising his ball-playing skills to start attacks and keep defenders hemmed in. In this, he is perfect for an Emery system that maintains a high and aggressive backline, retaining possession while attacking opponents with intensity.
Hailed for “performing at an insane level” by analyst Ben Mattinson during his final season in Italy with AC Milan, Reijnders is composed in tight spaces and intuitive when on the ball and tasked with making things happen.
He differs from Rogers, of course. He’s not as active a carrier, and he relies more on his line-breaking passing than Villa’s talisman, who drives with energy, pace, and ferocity.
But this is a player who can add a dimension to this title-winning Villan outfit, all the while timing his own surges into the danger area to score with comparative consistency.
In the Premier League for City this season, the Netherlands star scored five goals—including on his debut—across his first 19 matches, blending an innate potency with tidiness in possession and the ability to dictate a game, to will it onto his terms.
It’s worth stressing that there is every chance these two midfielders play in conjunction at Villa Park next season. Emery has only tightened his side’s grip on Rogers’ signature, and surely the attacker will be happy to continue his journey at the centre of this project.
But Villa are taking the first steps to add more control and creativity from midfield, and in Reijnders, the perfect foil could be signed in the coming months—a midfielder who might just have what it takes to cement himself as a superstar of the same quality as Rogers, albeit producing the goods in a different manner, thus ensuring the evolution of this incredible team.
From European Glory to Building a Dynasty
The scenes in Istanbul on May 20, 2026, will live long in the memory of every Aston Villa supporter. A 3-0 victory over SC Freiburg at Beşiktaş Park delivered the club’s first major European honour since the 1982 European Cup triumph and ended a 30-year wait for any silverware. Unai Emery, the serial Europa League winner, once again proved why he is one of the finest coaches on the continent.
For a club that has undergone a remarkable transformation under the ownership of NSWE and the tactical mastery of Emery, this triumph feels like validation. From battling relegation threats just a few years ago to lifting European silverware and securing back-to-back Champions League qualification, the project is bearing serious fruit.
Morgan Rogers has been the poster boy for this rise. The young England international’s blend of power, creativity, and leadership in midfield has been pivotal. His Europa League Player of the Season award, complete with crucial goals and assists, underscores his value. Yet, with interest from Manchester United and others potentially reaching £80m, Villa must balance ambition with pragmatism. Selling a homegrown star might fund squad depth, but losing him could disrupt the chemistry Emery has so carefully built.
The Reijnders Opportunity: Tactical Fit and Ambition
This is where Tijjani Reijnders enters the conversation. At 27, the Dutch international represents a smart, calculated investment rather than a gamble. His time at Manchester City has been solid but not spectacular—five Premier League goals in limited starts show flashes of his quality, but competition from the likes of Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne (before his departure), and others has limited his minutes.
Under Emery, Reijnders could flourish in ways he hasn’t at the Etihad. Villa’s high-pressing, possession-dominant style aligns perfectly with his strengths: progressive passing, spatial awareness, and the ability to dictate tempo from deeper or advanced roles. Analysts have long praised his “insane” technical ability from his Milan days, where he excelled in Serie A.
Pairing him with Rogers could create a formidable midfield axis. Imagine Rogers driving forward with his dynamic runs while Reijnders supplies the precise, line-breaking passes to unlock defences. This duo, supplemented by the likes of Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey, would give Villa the control needed to compete on multiple fronts next season—Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups.
Financially, a £45m deal makes sense. It fits within potential PSR constraints, especially if Villa generate sales elsewhere. Reports suggest City could be open to letting him leave for the right price as they reshape their squad.
Broader Squad Needs and Challenges Ahead
Winning the Europa League is monumental, but sustaining success requires ruthless squad planning. Emery has already transformed Villa into a top-six force, but depth is crucial for the rigours of Champions League football.
Key areas for reinforcement include:
- Defensive solidity: While the backline has been reliable, adding cover for Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres could prevent fatigue.
- Attacking versatility: Beyond Rogers, options to support Ollie Watkins and support the wings are essential.
- Midfield creativity: Reijnders addresses this directly, providing competition and rotation.
The owners have reportedly backed Emery with a significant transfer budget post-glory, potentially up to £100m, while navigating financial fair play. Retaining core talents like Rogers, Martínez, and McGinn remains priority one.
The Bigger Picture: Villa’s Place in English Football
This Europa League win isn’t just about one night in Istanbul—it’s about legacy. It elevates Aston Villa back among Europe’s elite, boosts commercial appeal, and inspires the next generation of fans in Birmingham and beyond. The parade through the city streets showed raw emotion: fans who waited decades finally celebrating.
Unai Emery’s project has evolved from survival to silverware. With smart additions like Reijnders, Villa can push for Premier League contention and deeper European runs. The “new Rogers” narrative isn’t about replacement—it’s about enhancement.
As the summer window heats up, expect Villa to be proactive. Whether Reijnders arrives or not, the message is clear: this isn’t a one-off success. The Villans are building something special.
The Second City is no longer waiting for glory. It’s demanding more. And with Emery at the helm, the sky’s the limit.