Aston Villa January 2026 Transfer Window Plans
Unai Emery may be a man known for his tactical precision, but in the January transfer window, he’s playing things with typical restraint. Speaking ahead of Aston Villa’s weekend fixture against Nottingham Forest, the Villa head coach offered his first words on the club’s winter plans – including the arrival of 19-year-old Brazilian winger Alysson, the stalled situation with Harvey Elliott, and the wider squad challenges Villa face in a relentless season of fixtures.
Welcome Alysson
The first move of the window has already been made. Alysson, a 19-year-old left-footed winger from Brazil, is the latest prospect to arrive through the Villa Park gates. For Emery, it’s a move focused firmly on long-term development rather than immediate first-team impact.
“He is very young. He was (having development) in Brazil, really being fantastic as a young player. He is a winger playing on the right side, but he is left footed.”
A/the top performing winger in Brazil at his age.#AVFC pic.twitter.com/EL73JSQUzP
— My Old Man Said (@myoldmansaid) January 1, 2026
Alysson Qualities
While Villa’s recruitment under Emery has been mixed with many young players being flipped for PSR, the Brazilian seems to be very much part of Emery’s future plans with a profile that fits into a broader system and philosophy.
“We signed him thinking in his development with us, exploiting his potential as a player, winger. He has good dribbling. He is playing usually in the right side offensively and defensively with the physicality, doing good work.
“He can defend, he can attack and he is intense. He is young, and the adaptation firstly is with our training sessions, and then progressively, hopefully, in the Premier League with the demands we have.”
With Alysson through the door, is there more to come?
January Future Incomings
“We are alert. We signed Alysson and we are trying to understand how we can improve our squad, but of course intelligently, and as well, with the financial rules.
“But we are a team and my mentality is: always be alert in case we can improve something in the squad, to do it. We must be ready for different options we can have in the transfer window.”
At the same time, Emery made it clear he is content with the group he already has at his disposal.
“How we are now, of course, I am so, so happy how we are performing, how the players are responding, how we are keeping our demands.
“With the players we have, even with the injured players we have, other players, they are ready to play, and it’s a very good opportunity for them, even the young players.
“We watched it on Tuesday. Some players like George (Hemmings) and Jamal (Jimoh-Aloba), they did a debut in the Premier League, and it’s fantastic for us as well, because we have this responsibility.”
The Mysterious Case of Harvey Elliot
One potential outgoing has hit a contractual roadblock. Harvey Elliott – currently on loan – appears unlikely to continue featuring, due to a clause that would trigger a permanent move after playing 10 games.
“The problem we have with Harvey (Elliott) is this year he is on loan and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him. We decided two months ago we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need. This is the issue.”
Squad Building
Even as the January window offers the chance to tweak, Emery’s real challenge remains the sheer volume of football his squad must contend with – and the mounting physical toll on players.
“Each match, and we are playing three years in a row, Europe, Premier League, last year FA Cup until the semi-final we played, Carabao Cup.
“We are playing 55 matches more or less, the last three years. Hopefully this year, we will play again, more or less, 55 matches.
“Of course, the football is changing, 30 years ago they were playing, maybe, 50, maximum.
Listen and Follow to MOMS Podcast on Spotify
“Now the players, they are playing 55 with their clubs, in case like us, we are playing in Europe and we are more or less playing until the last moment, and adding matches in national teams.
“Through these demands, of course they are increasing the risk for injured players. We must be ready with the players we have, and the opportunity for other players.”
With or without new arrivals this month, Emery’s focus is clear: protect the level Villa have already reached, prepare for more strain ahead, and remain, above all, alert to opportunity.
UTV
Follow MOMS on Twitter/X & Facebook & Threads & Bluesky & Spotify
Get a cracking deal on NordVPN with four months FREE & a 30 days money-back guarantee here: nordvpn.com/moms