Sportsupdated 1h ago2 min read
Archive photo · 2 August 2023Unai Emery Nears New Aston Villa Contract Extension Beyond 2029
“particularly when you consider that the club didn't actually confirm a new contract had been signed”
“plan is to announce the new contract once all details have been agreed, which is unlikely to be before the weekend.”
Photo: Arne Müseler / www.arne-mueseler.com, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · Cropped for layout
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Emery close to signing a new long-term Aston Villa contract. Villa plan to build their long-term future around Emery.
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Emery nears extension
Unai Emery held talks with Aston Villa’s hierarchy on Wednesday as the club moved toward a contract extension that would keep him at Villa Park beyond 2029. Aston Villa’s statement said the meeting with Emery, club chairman Nassef Sawiris, executives Roberto Olabe and Damian Vidagany focused on “positive discussions establishing a clear commitment beyond 2029 for the joint development of the club”.
Emery’s team won the Europa League in May, and the club is set to play Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend. The LiveScore report said Emery is “on the verge of signing a new long-term contract” that would reach well beyond his current deal, which expires in 2029.
United interest and Carrick
Manchester United’s managerial situation remained tied to Michael Carrick, after the BBC noted Villa play this weekend at Old Trafford “should they sack boss Michael Carrick.” Carrick kept his job at Old Trafford through a nine-game win-less run that ended with a 3-2 comeback victory against Roma in the Champions League.
Villa threatened pundit and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher with legal action after he suggested Emery would be a good choice if Manchester United were looking for a new manager, and it said Carragher told fans of the club to “shut up”. The Telegraph framed Emery’s talks with Nassef Sawiris as a move to “kill off any interest in the head coach from Manchester United,” while also saying Emery would cost United close to £20m to release him.
What the deal signals
Aston Villa’s statement described the Wednesday meeting as planning “the club’s future and lay the foundations for its long-term sporting and institutional project,” with the discussions centered on a commitment beyond 2029. There has been “no confirmation of a new deal” even as Villa signalled that “the sporting leadership of Unai Emery” would be central to their long-term plans.
Villa’s contract news came after speculation of Manchester United’s interest, and it described Emery’s existing deal as due to expire in 2029. The roundtable.io discussion said the club’s announcement was “clearly designed to send a message about the manager’s future,” while Jacob Tanswell said he expected an extension of more than one year, taking Emery beyond his existing contract, which runs until 2029.