Emiliano Buendia nears Aston Villa contract extension after Emery turnaround
Emiliano Buendia is close to agreeing a new Aston Villa contract after encouraging progress in discussions, according to the Daily Mail. The proposed deal is understood to run until the end of the 2028-29 campaign, a significant show of faith in a player who has forced his way back into Unai Emery’s inner circle.
Buendia’s existing terms are due to expire at the end of the current season, and Villa were understandably keen to avoid a situation where the Argentine drifted into the final 18 months under an extension option alone. For a squad competing on multiple fronts, securing trusted attacking depth feels like sensible business as much as a reward for perseverance.
Buendia contract reflects Aston Villa trust
The wider context matters here. Buendia, now 29 and turning 30 on Christmas Day, looked a long way from this point in summer 2025. The report states he was “so far out of the picture at Villa in summer 2025 that he was even proposed to city rivals Birmingham”. That makes this latest development all the more notable.
His impact on the pitch has shifted the picture. Buendia scored one of Villa’s defining goals in the Europa League final win over Freiburg in Istanbul last May, a success that delivered their first major trophy since 1996. He also struck “another spectacular goal” in the 3-2 win at Tottenham before the international break, his third goal in as many matches at Spurs’ stadium.
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Unai Emery backing key to Villa future
Emery’s support has been explicit for some time. In November last year, Villa’s manager said: “Everything that happened around him, he deserved it because he worked hard to recover his best form as a player.” He added: “When we decided to keep him here, and he decided to stay here as well, I was confident he could get the numbers he is achieving.”
Those comments now read like an early indication of where this was heading. Buendia has rebuilt his standing through resilience, availability and production, and Villa appear ready to formalise that recovery with a fresh long-term agreement.
Champions League role and next Aston Villa step
Buendia started the 1-0 win at Newcastle United at St James’ Park, though squad rotation could yet see him on the bench for Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Viking as Villa chase a third league phase win from three. Either way, this contract movement points to a player with renewed relevance and a club looking to secure continuity at the right time.
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This is exactly the sort of news that lifts the mood because it speaks to how well this club is being run. Buendia could easily have faded away after falling down the pecking order, yet he stayed, worked, and earned his place back. That matters. Supporters respond to players who fight for the shirt, and he has clearly done that.
There is also something deeply satisfying about seeing Emery identify value where others might have moved on. Buendia has quality in tight spaces, imagination around the box and the nerve to produce big moments. Goals like the one in Istanbul and the strike at Tottenham are not accidents. They come from a player with bravery and technique, and those players are worth keeping.
It also feels important for the squad as a whole. Villa are competing at a level where depth wins you points, trophies and European nights. Keeping a trusted attacker who already understands the manager’s demands is far better than gambling on a replacement who may need months to settle.
If this gets completed, it will feel deserved on every level. Buendia has earned the contract, Emery has justified his faith, and Villa will be keeping a player who can change matches in an instant. That is the kind of smart, stable decision serious clubs make.