May 20, 2026 will be a day that will forever remain in the memory of all Aston Villa supporters after Unai Emery’s side ended a 30-year trophy drought.
The Villains crushed Germany’s Freiburg in the Europa League final on Thursday, adding another European title to the club’s trophy cabinet.
There’s no doubt that fans, players and management were in for a headache this morning, but after last night’s generational win, who can blame them?
Hangover or not, Emery is a highly motivated manager and will already be thinking about the club’s next steps, whether it’s the Premier League or the Champions League.
In the upcoming summer transfer window, he and his recruiting team could rack up some incredible final wins and take the team to the next level.
Europe’s top midfielder wants to move to Aston Villa
Rumors continue to emerge that a number of players have been linked with a move to the West Midlands in an attempt to strengthen Villa’s ranks ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Roma star Matthias Soule is just one player on their radar and could be signed permanently when the summer window opens in early June.
Negotiations are ongoing between the Villans and the player’s agent, with the Serie A side said to be demanding a fee of around £35 million for his signature.
He is not the only player currently attracting attention in the division, with Sporting CP midfielder Hidemasa Morita also being considered for the summer.
According to Football Insider, the Japanese midfielder is set to leave the Portuguese club on a free transfer when his contract expires at the end of June.
The paper also states that fellow Premier League side Leeds United are also very keen to sign the 31-year-old ahead of the summer.
However, the player himself is reported to be keen to join Emery’s side during this period, and could be a bargain addition to further their bid for Europa League success.
Why Morita is like the best John McGinn for Aston Villa
Last night’s European win was a reminder of how far the club has progressed under Emery, with midfielder John McGinn a player who has seen it all at Villa Park.
The Scot joined the Villains in 2018 during their Championship days but has remained an integral part of the senior squad over the past eight years.
Since his £2.5 million move, he has made an astonishing 330 appearances in all competitions and has since won the hearts of fans with his relentless work rate, both with and without the ball.
John McGinn – Aston Villa stats | |
|---|---|
statistics | tally |
games played | 330 |
Number of points | 40 |
assist | 48 |
yellow card | 72 |
red card | 1 |
Play time (minutes) | 26282 |
McGinn captained Emery’s side to the title in Istanbul last night, cementing his legacy at the club and forever etching his name into the history books.
His move will go down as one of the best in the club’s history, with very few players able to rise through the divisions and still be an influential senior squad at the top of Europe.
However, the leaders now have a golden opportunity to sign Morita and sign the 31-year-old next player when the transfer window opens in the coming months.
The Japan international has a reputation in Portugal for his incredibly workmanlike style, but he also makes an important contribution in front of goal.
Statistics from the current campaign have proven his quality in key areas and a rumored free transfer to the West Midlands could be the club’s latest bargain.
Morita played 31 games in this season’s Portuguese Liga and went on to record 2.4 tackles and 5.7 ball recoveries per 90, highlighting his uncanny ability to win the ball back for his team.
He also recorded 1.1 interceptions and 5.4 defensive contributions per 90 points, emulating the level of greatness fan-favorite McGinn produced without the ball at Villa Park.
The Japanese star has also improved in terms of possession, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 86% this season, an impressive 1.8 per 90 attempts.
He has one goal and four assists in such a period, with journalist Eduard Hahn calling the Sporting star “sensational” in recent months.
McGinn’s level in the West Midlands is astonishing and the Scottish star is a player who perfectly highlights what it takes to succeed at Villa Park.
Wednesday’s Europa League win was the crowning jewel in his own fairy-tale rise and will no doubt remain in the memories of Villains officials forever.
The signing of Morita will provide a much-needed additional quality in the heart of the squad, allowing Emery’s side to secure their place as one of Europe’s elite.
He was a monster: Aston Villa star looked like Gareth Barry in his prime in Istanbul
Aston Villa ended a 30-year drought and defeated Freiburg to win the Europa League.
