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Aston Villa had one of the craziest summer transfer windows in recent memory, as Unai Emery saw his whole squad receive a big shake-up.
The Spanish coach guided Villa to winning the Europa League and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, but then saw key players Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, and Emiliano Martinez all depart for new challenges at different clubs.
That meant that the Midlands side were forced to be busy in the summer transfer window, with 11 new faces arriving before the September 1st deadline. But with the team having a tricky start to the campaign so far, GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at how those new signings are performing...
1 Zion Suzuki
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One of the more surprising signings of the summer, Zion Suzuki arrived from Parma having been on the brink of a move to Paris Saint-Germain before Villa stepped in.
The Japan international has been an excellent addition since making his debut, conceding seven goals in his five-and-a-half games to date, but making some incredible saves in the process to help the team.
Without a doubt the best-performing new signing so far, and worth every penny of the money spent to replace a huge figure in Emi Martinez.
2 Nicolas Jackson
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When Watkins departed for Saudi Arabia, Aston Villa made replacing him a priority, and Unai Emery was adamant that Nicolas Jackson was the man he wanted in his team.
The Senegal international has come into the team and immediately made an impact with his boundless energy, pace, and movement, and bagged his first goals for the club with fine strikes against Club Brugge and Tottenham to open his account.
It's clear what he will bring to the team, and under Emery's management he will only improve, making him a top signing for the club now and for years to come.
3 Joao Gomes
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Despite a horror debut where he was sent off in a 4-0 defeat to Brighton, Joao Gomes has already returned to the team and showed the quality that convinced Emery that he was the man to replace Tielemans in midfield.
The combative Brazilian has got energy for days, loves a tackle, can carry the ball well and is a good passer. He's also a leader on the pitch and gives everything. With every passing game fans are seeing that the debut was a one-off, and he is going to grow into a fan favourite at Villa Park.
4 Johan Manzambi
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Villa watched Johan Manzambi light up the World Cup this summer for Switzerland and were so convinced by his quality that they broke their transfer record to bring him in while he was injured.
After finally getting back to fitness, the 21-year-old showed what all the hype was about in his first start for the club as he got a goal and assist in the 3-2 win over Tottenham. Despite the big fee, Manzambi's ceiling is obviously very high, and he could well be the next big star at the club.
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Fees correct prior to summer 2026
5 Matteo Ruggeri
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Aston Villa were in need of a new left-back to strengthen following Lucas Digne's departure, but they also wanted to give Ian Maatsen the chance to claim the starting role.
Ruggeri came in from Atletico Madrid and has made an impact with his aggressive and combative style, despite being restricted to just two starts so far. Defensively, he is solid, and he does the basics very well, which is something the manager and fans will love.
He'll be looking to keep this form up in the coming months with Maatsen sidelined due to injury, and could potentially make the starting spot his own. But whenever he plays, he looks like he'll be a very reliable member of the squad.
6 Ibrahim Mbaye
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Mbaye was one of the most exciting signings of the window, joining from Paris Saint-Germain despite huge competition from the likes of Liverpool.
The exciting winger is considered to be one of the best young forwards in Europe, and has the experience of winning back-to-back Champions Leagues and playing in the World Cup under his belt, despite being just 18.
But the big £47m fee, plus his lack of regular game experience, makes the deal a bit of a gamble. He's yet to be given a real chance to make an impact yet, but his quality is there for all to see, and it's a deal that fans should be absolutely buzzing about.
7 Aaron Wan-Bissaka
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Aston Villa needed competition and depth at right-back to go alongside Matty Cash, and a deal for a player like Wan-Bissaka who has years of experience at the highest level looks like a no-brainer.
The 28-year-old made the move from West Ham on an initial loan with a conditional obligation to buy next summer, and has already brought his talent to the side this season. Everyone knows what he brings defensively, being one of the best around when it comes to one-v-one defending, but he has also brought athleticism going forward and competition for places.
It's hard to go wrong with a loan deal, and if it gets completed then it means he has earned Unai Emery's trust, so it's hard to see a downside at this stage.
8 Leon Goretzka
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A real surprise signing in the summer was the arrival of one of the best Germany midfielders of the modern era in Leon Goretzka.
The experienced midfielder was released by Bayern Munich but made the move to Villa Park on a free transfer, and will provide a complete skill set to help Emery's team control games and be competitive no matter the opposition.
Unfortunately, he suffered an injury before making his debut and hasn't been able to play yet, so it's hard to rate him much higher than this at this stage.
9 Taylor Harwood-Bellis
taylor harwood-bellis
Emery made the one-time England international his top target to replace Ezri Konsa when he joined Arsenal, and there was some excitement when a deal was finally agreed. But Villa then surprised everyone when Taylor Harwood-Bellis was left out of the club's Champions League squad for the League phase.
The 24-year-old is yet to feature in the Premier League either since joining, finding himself behind Pau Torres, Victor Lindelof, and Tyrone Mings in the pecking order, and that suggests that he may not be impressing the manager behind the scenes. At £29m, that's a worrying sign, but there is time for him to turn it around.
10 Modou Cisse
Villa Park
Premier League - Aston Villa v Crystal Palace - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - September 16, 2023 General view inside the stadium before the match REUTERS/David Klein
Not much was known about Modou Keba Cisse when Aston Villa announced that he had signed a pre-contract agreement in 2025, and not much more is known now.
The young Senegalese defender is yet to make his debut for the club due to injury, but it's understood that he is considered to be highly rated within the club walls, and it will be interesting to see what type of opportunities he is given this season.