Aston Villa

Image source, Aston Villa FC Website

Aston Villa have unvieled their third kit for the 2025-26 season.

A club statement says the kit is inspired by the stained glass windows which have been found at Villa Park since it first opened in 1897.

"We are delighted to present this unique third kit for 2025/26, which includes the adidas Trefoil logo for the first time," the club said.

"The stained glass windows are synonymous with Villa Park and are a unifying factor of the matchday experience for generations of fans. We are very pleased that adidas have brought their unique brilliance to life with this design."

Arsenal are weighing up an offer for England midfielder Morgan Rogers, 23, but Aston Villa will only entertain offers in the region of £80m. (Sun), external

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Arsenal are weighing up an offer for England midfielder Morgan Rogers, 23, but Aston Villa will only entertain offers in the region of £80m. (Sun), external

Nottingham Forest are exploring the possibility of reuniting with 28-year-old Poland and Aston Villa defender Matty Cash. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Aston Villa's Alex Moreno, 32, is on the verge of joining Girona after the Spanish left-back agreed to reduce his wages. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

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The lasting memory of an unproductive opening day may be the odd kinship that appears to have developed between Aston Villa and Newcastle - two clubs who have arrived at a similar status by different routes.

Both have proven potential to break into the top bracket of the Premier League and owners with the financial muscle to back their ambition.

And their fans united on Saturday to claim loudly that their clubs are being held back by the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), designed to protect clubs from financial ruin.

Those fans might say that last sentence is contentious, since the very point many of them have made is that the only protecting being done by PSR – and in Villa's case, Uefa's Squad Cost Rules too – is of the established wealthy giants from the perceived nouveau riche like Villa and Newcastle.

And how bizarre that we should be considering clubs with such proud histories as Villa and Newcastle as some kind of insurgent anyway.

Yet it is hard to argue that football does not need some sort of financial control when so many clubs have ended up in trouble - and in extreme cases, ended altogether.

Whether there is a fairer method is a debate likely to outlive both you and me. But if the current system appears to make a transfer like Jacob Ramsey's move to Newcastle more likely, a rethink may be necessary.

Ramsey, an authentic local boy done good, represents "pure profit" for Villa. Unai Emery and his colleagues only ever spoke glowingly of him.

Ramsey himself obviously revelled in playing for the club that nurtured him since just after he started school, and he deserves a warm reception whenever he plays at Villa Park in future.

Should he feel any homesickness, his new club will understand – in another parallel between the sides, Newcastle sold Elliot Anderson, apparently for similar reasons, last year.

Ramsey and Anderson will both prosper. They may play together for England one day.

Perhaps this sort of transfer is caused not by the rules themselves, but the way clubs choose to observe them. We can debate that.

But for now, it may be that the best way for a young player to have a long career at their dream club, if they are in a position like Villa or Newcastle, is to join somebody else's academy first.

"It works from an accounting point of view," said football finance expert Kieran Maguire on these pages this week. "But it's absolutely awful from a footballing perspective."

Villa fans might well agree.

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We asked for your views on the departure of Leon Bailey to Roma in a loan deal.

Here are some of your comments:

Prit: Sad to see Bailey go, especially for the woefully low fee of £1.7m. I think the combination of Diaby and Bailey was very productive, but when Diaby went Bailey sadly lost his form. I hope he does well at Roma but it leaves Villa woefully short, especially as we had to sell Ramsey to satisfy the altar of PSR. Time for Villa to think very creatively.

Martin: He has had his time at Villa. I found him to be frustrating at times when he had to try and beat a player two or three times before attempting to pass or cross a ball. Good player but I don't think he will be missed.

Miles: Good riddance. He was the same as every right winger we buy. Traore, Diaby, Bailey. Fast but erratic. No control over the ball. Not good enough.

Shak: I fully expect Bailey to be back at Villa next summer. Italian clubs are ridiculous with loaning players with "options" to buy that they never intend to take up. That being said, if it gets his wages, or some of them, off the books for this season and helps against the FA and Uefa rules - which are a joke by the way - then it is what it is.

Paul: We know he can be devastating but since Diaby left he's rarely shown it. I expect they will have the loan then he will come back and Villa will be left with another unwanted player past his peak. Thanks for your efforts Leon.

Mossy: For me no issues with Bailey going - a very talented player but so delicate. Very injury prone and just not consistent enough. Glimpses of brilliance but Villa need more robust players who can give it all season long.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa have confirmed winger Leon Bailey has joined Roma on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy.

Bailey joined Villa in the summer of 2021 from Bayer Leverkusen and has made a total of 144 appearances, scoring 22 goals.

The Jamaican international helped Villa to the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season, scoring and registering an assist in the last-16 tie against Club Brugge.

Bailey signed a new contract with Villa in February 2024 that runs until 2027.

He played a big role in Unai Emery's first two seasons in charge but found himself with limited game time in the second half of last season due to injury.

How do you feel about the transfer?

Get in touch with your views here

Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers says he wants to be one of the "incredible players people speak about" after he was named Young Player of the Year at the Professional Footballers' Association awards.

"It has all happened so quickly and so fast but I suppose that's down to hard work, ambition which I've always had and a dream - I'm still trying to live that dream," he said.

"It's a really nice moment and I just want to keep going.

"Later down the line, I want to be one of those incredible players people speak about, so to do that I have to do what they did and what they followed after.

"It's a nice recognition but there's more to win and I can't wait."

The asking price for Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson, 24, who Aston Villa are exploring the viability of a move to sign, needs to be lower than £60m due to the West Midlands club's financial restrictions. (Telegraph - subscription required, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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Chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

Ian asked: Why do you think Manchester United are dragging their feet when it comes to buying a new keeper with the opportunity to buy Emi Martinez from Aston Villa or Donnarumma from PSG, when clearly there is a major keeper issue to sort out?

Phil answered: I think they felt they had priorities to sort out at the other end of the pitch first, but it is clearly something that has been preying on their mind over the summer. Andre Onana is not good enough and neither is Altay Bayindir, as he proved against Arsenal on Sunday.

Some Aston Villa fans may regard this as sacrilege, but I actually think Emi Martinez is overrated. He is certainly not "the world's number one", as we are so often told. Far from it, in fact.

Donnarumma, though, is definitely a deal worth exploring if United can get anywhere near it.

Read more from Phil's Q&A

Hannah Gowen
Fan writer

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The opening day stalemate in B6 wasn't quite the thriller many anticipated given the recent run of action-packed meetings between Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Eddie Howe's side were hot out of the blocks, leaving Villa startled and struggling to find their rhythm. First-game rustiness perhaps, but a stark contrast to the energy and control of Unai Emery's side when the Magpies last visited.

As Villa struggled with Newcastle's intensity, it was hard not to divert attention to a pensive Emery on the touchline. The boss was clearly uncomfortable at the lack of control his team had on the field.

Since his arrival, Emery has looked to develop Villa into an organised and well-drilled outfit. Games have become chess-like tactical battles rather than open, expressive affairs.

While they can certainly still excite, this Emery side is one designed to find calm in the chaos of top-flight football. He thrives on detail and identifying opposition weaknesses, patiently breaking down teams and building a side that can control games.

When his side are unable to dominate possession, lose the ball cheaply or fluff half-chances, Unai can be seen frantically waving his arms in a 'calm down' gesture to his players. Of course he wants a team that is great to watch, but footballing law and order comes first.

There are times when Villa's approach seems to be more of a science than an art - maybe a reflection of the game more broadly in 2025. This style might not get fans off their seats as often, but it has earned Villa three consecutive European finishes in the league. Perhaps it earned the point when down to 10 men on Saturday.

In another ruthless domestic and European season, it is hard to imagine Unai letting go of the reins any time soon.

Find more from Hannah Gowen at UTV, external

Aston Villa winger Leon Bailey is on the verge of joining Roma on loan, with the Italian club holding an option to make the deal permanent next summer. (Corriere dello Sport - in Italian, external)

Meanwhile, Villa have added Chelsea and Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, 24, to their shortlist of attacking options, but could face competition from Bayern Munich. (Florian Plettenberg, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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David Michael
Fan writer

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It was Steven Gerrard that helped focus Aston Villa supporters' minds on the potential of Jacob Ramsey.

When Gerrard was Villa manager, Ramsey was 20-years-old and carried the tag of being the 'one most likely' to make a big impression as a home-grown player in a post-Grealish world. Regardless of Gerrard's pedigree as a manager, being one of England's greatest midfielders gave weight to his words. For Villa supporters, it was a case of game recognising game.

"He's a top talent. He is right up there, let me tell you," gushed Gerrard, before adding it was "only a matter of time" before the England Under-21 midfielder would be in the senior national set-up.

Ramsey's breakthrough season was one of few bright sparks during Gerrard's ill-fated reign. The midfielder proved himself as a rapid ball carrier, enabling Villa to surge up the pitch with intent. He also had the welcome habit of ghosting into the box to score valuable goals.

When Unai Emery arrived, he became an integral part of an electric left-hand side that re-energised and propelled a seemingly lost team into Europe.

Under Emery, he developed further, adding creativity to his game and finishing the 2022-23 season with seven assists to go with his six goals.

Unfortunately, the past couple of campaigns of injuries have shackled Ramsey's momentum. For Villa, when fit, he became a match-day squad player rather than a guaranteed starter, and that perhaps will be his initial status at Newcastle, considering their depth on the left-hand side.

That said, Newcastle will need to rotate this season, and Ramsey proved adept in the Champions League last term with a goal and two assists in four starts and two substitute appearances.

His ex-teammates' support and best wishes on social media demonstrated how he was regarded at the club, but such sentiment is increasingly drowned out by the blunt economic reality of PSR and wage-ratio rules.

A circa £40m transfer fee is widely regarded as excellent business, the kind of deal that makes even the romance of watching a home-grown talent flourish feel expendable.

Ramsey becomes the latest Villa academy graduate to be harvested for compliance - a transaction that might satisfy the spreadsheets but ultimately leaves die-hard supporters colder to the reality of the Premier League.

Find more from David Michael at My Old Man Said, external

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Jacob Ramsey says he has lived his "dream" being able to play for Aston Villa after leaving the club to join Newcastle.

The 24-year-old posted an emotional farewell, external to his boyhood and fans on social media after completing a £40m move to St James' Park over the weekend.

Ramsey had been with Villa since the age of six, working his way up through the youth sides and going on to make 167 appearances for the senior team, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists.

"It's impossible to put into words what playing for Aston Villa has meant to me," he wrote alongside a video.

"From being a young fan in the Holte End to living my dream and scoring in front of it, this club has been an extended family to me, and I've got memories for life - from making my Premier League debut, experiencing Champions League nights back at Villa Park and scoring my first goals in those competitions.

"To everyone at Aston Villa, both at the academy and in the first team, thank you for your support, belief and guidance. You've helped me become the person and player I am today. I've played with some of the best and made friends for life.

"And finally to the fans - thank you for the love and backing. To represent you, as a boy from Birmingham, has been an absolute honour.

"On to the next chapter now, but wish you all nothing but the best in the future. Thank you for everything!"

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Newcastle.

Here are some of your comments:

Aston Villa fans

Phil: Disappointed with Villa. They were sluggish in midfield, poor passing and not sure Watkins' heart is in it. The most obvious thing that summed up Saturday's game was the free-kick Tielemans put in - a superb cross and not one player went for the ball and then it went out for throw in to Newcastle.

Martyn: Lousy game and nothing positive to say other than a point was a bonus. Too many players didn't turn up and Konsa's schoolboy challenge almost cost us the match. Emery knows the size of the task and I think we all have to be realistic about the season ahead.

Robin: Very disappointing. Seemed to have learned nothing during their preparation. Passing poor. I fear that they will struggle this season. Newcastle were the better team and should have won.

Leigh: A rusty performance and pedestrian transition with what seemed a lack of creativity and never seemed to be a threat. Nothing down the left side with Rogers clearly unhappy and lacking any quality. Cash and McGinn played well. Bizot was strong and decisive. A worrying start and clearly Villa are lacking a creative striker as Watkins seemed to lack vision, creating very little, but he wasn't serviced by the likes of Tielemans. I also felt a lack of atmosphere for the opening home match. On the flip side, Newcastle were equally as poor. Come on, Villa - we know you are better than this.

Roger: Flat, flat, flat - disappointing with too many players off the pace. Rogers was non-existent and there was too much gifting of possession with stray passes. Where is the creativity going to come from?

Martin: A very poor and disappointing performance. We are desperate for new full-backs. The midfield has got old, boring and has no creativity. This season will be a struggle without new faces.

Newcastle fans

Brian: The failure in the transfer market to recruit quality players is evident, it is not only the Isak situation that results in no goals for the Toon. The fault lies with the club management in all aspects and it needs to be corrected so we can have a team that can beat a 10-man opposition. The team still have a few good players but the under-performers should be moved on and quality brought in, and we need better management to do that.

Paul: Very disappointed in Elanga. We should have signed Mohammed Kudus or Antoine Semenyo instead. Season of struggle if we don't get strikers in as we are toothless without Isak.

Jason: Newcastle just showed that they would have been better prepared if they had not wasted their time, let Isak leave and brought in a replacement in time for this game. The result would have been better.

Richard: I'd have taken a point before the game but, by the end of it, I was disappointed we didn't get all three. I think we looked rusty but then so did Villa and I don't think the elephant in the room/Swede on the pitch would have necessarily meant we would have won. Yes, we created chances but I didn't come away with the impression that Isak would have been the difference here. If we can keep the intensity of the first 35 minutes up for the whole game then I think we can still give anyone a game. That said, a new striker or two would be very nice.

John: I thought Newcastle were excellent. Villa is never an easy gig for us, and with all the negative noise around the club at the moment, the performance was all the more impressive. We could have had two or three goals in the first half but, overall, I'm happy with a point. Credit to Eddie and the lads.

Bryan: Reasonable all-round performance but, as expected, we are definitely missing a striker. Don't understand why we bring on the only recognised striker with only minutes to play. Gordon will never be a striker. Another excellent display from Dan Burn.

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's opening Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

• Tottenham 3-0 Burnley

• Wolves 0-4 Manchester City

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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It was Aston Villa's first opening day Premier League home game for 15 years.

It would be too far to say fans would be happy to wait another 15 for the next one but it is game which will not live long in the memory.

A stalemate against Newcastle at least ensured Villa will go a calendar year unbeaten at home in the Premier League.

But, especially in the first half, they were undercooked and second best behind a Newcastle side who are a direct competitor for a Champions League spot.

The Magpies pipped Villa to fifth on goal difference last season and, on this evidence, may put daylight between the sides by the end of the current campaign.

It is clear Villa need quality reinforcements - they are without former loanees Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio and are about to sell Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle for £40m - but financial restrictions have ruled Villa's summer transfer spend.

Emery called for a "review" of profit and sustainability rules in his programme column and afterwards insisted Villa will continue to respect the rules.

"I am happy how we are managing things," he said.

"Since I've been here we have done fantastic transfer window. We have to be intelligent and the most important thing is how we are building the team and getting as strong as possible with the players we have.

"We are ambitious but we are ambitious trying to respect the rules and trying to get the best players possible. We are not going to rest in case we can be with some options in the transfer window."

Ezri Konsa's 66th-minute red card halted Villa's momentum after they managed to wrestle control from Newcastle after the break.

• Emery reflected on the match and Konsa's dismissal on BBC Radio West Midlands

Boubacar Kamara headed at Nick Pope before Ollie Watkins tested Pope but Emery had to accept a point as a positive.

He added: "We are not happy when we are losing two points at home. I think more or less they maybe deserved more because they had better chances. We have to accept it."

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa drew 0-0 to Newcastle United on Saturday in their opening game of the Premier League season and manager Unai Emery believes sharing the points was 'more or less fair'.

"I am not happy with one point at home," Emery told BBC Match of the Day.

"But against a team like Newcastle, they made a lot of good chances in the first half. [In the] Second half we dominated more, created chances. But the red card changed the match completely. The players responded fantastically, the point more or less is fair.

"It was a tough match. After the red card there was more necessity to defend, but we responded to all the issues on the field."

On whether Ezri Konsa should have made the challenge leading to the red card: "It is difficult to anticipate which is best in that moment. This action for Konsa, I can't say anything about this decision.

On Marco Bizot keeping a clean sheet on his debut: "Fantastic, he did very good work for his confidence and his team mates."

Image source, Getty Images

• Only Lee Hendrie (four) has received more red cards for Aston Villa in the Premier League than Ezri Konsa (three). Indeed, no player has received more dismissals than Konsa's three in the competition since the start of 2021-22.

• Nevertheless, Villa are unbeaten in their last 19 home matches in the Premier League (W11 D8) which is their longest ever run on home soil in the competition.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Aston Villa's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back to this page on Sunday to find a selection of your replies