Aston Villa Targets Aaron Wan-Bissaka for Right-Back Position
Unai Emery has picked his next battleground. It is not a flashy forward or a marquee playmaker. It is right-back.
The Aston Villa manager has made strengthening that position a priority this summer as he shapes a squad he believes can fight on all fronts. With Champions League football on the horizon after last season’s Europa League triumph and a fourth-place Premier League finish, Emery wants depth, intensity and, above all, reliability down his defensive flank.
Matty Cash remains the current first-choice, but Villa want serious competition, not just cover. According to The Athletic, Aaron Wan-Bissaka sits near the top of their shortlist, viewed inside the club as a defender whose profile fits Emery’s demanding, tactically flexible back line.
Villa turn to Wan-Bissaka after early misses
Villa’s interest in Wan-Bissaka has sharpened after other right-back targets slipped away in the early weeks of the window. A move for Emerson Royal, currently at Flamengo and formerly of Tottenham Hotspur, never got off the ground. That failed pursuit forced Villa’s recruitment team to pivot, and Wan-Bissaka has quickly become a leading option.
At 28, the former Manchester United full-back brings something Villa value highly: elite defensive instincts. His reputation as a one-on-one specialist, built during his time at Old Trafford, still carries weight across Europe. Under Emery, who often tweaks shapes and responsibilities across his back four, that kind of defensive security is gold.
West Ham’s relegation opens the door
Circumstances at West Ham United have also shifted the landscape. Relegation to the Championship has left the east London club facing a season outside the top flight for the first time since 2011-12. In that context, the Hammers are understood to be open to sanctioning Wan-Bissaka’s departure.
He featured 27 times in all competitions for West Ham last season, registering three assists, but his influence faded when it mattered most. Over the final stretch of the campaign, he started only two of their last seven matches, with Kyle Walker-Peters often preferred. For a player in his prime, that loss of status has been stark.
Any deal will not be straightforward. Wan-Bissaka’s contract at the London Stadium runs until 2031 after he signed a seven-year agreement when he arrived from Manchester United in a £15 million transfer. That long-term commitment underpins West Ham’s valuation, which remains high despite their drop to the second tier.
International form keeps his stock high
While West Ham laboured, Wan-Bissaka’s standing on the international stage strengthened. He has become a key figure for DR Congo, starting all four of their matches at this summer’s World Cup. His performances there, marked by the same timing in the tackle and composure in duels that made his name, drew attention from scouts across the tournament.
Those displays have reminded potential buyers of the defender who once looked like one of Europe’s most reliable stoppers in wide areas. During five seasons at Manchester United, Wan-Bissaka made 190 appearances and anchored the right side of their defence through multiple managerial changes. He played a central role in the squads that lifted the EFL Cup in 2022-23 and the FA Cup in 2023-24, adding tangible success to his résumé.
A potential reset for player and club
For Wan-Bissaka, a move to Villa would represent a sharp turn in fortune. From fighting for minutes in a relegated side to competing for a starting place in a Champions League outfit, the contrast is stark. For Emery, it would be another calculated step in turning Villa into a side that can sustain domestic and European campaigns without losing edge or identity.
Villa want competition, not comfort. Wan-Bissaka wants a stage worthy of his defensive craft. If the numbers can be made to work, the right-back slot at Villa Park could soon become one of the most fiercely contested positions in English football.
