Unai Emery expresses his happiness at a renewed deal for an important player
Aston Villa captain John McGinn has extended his stay with the club, signing a new contract that keeps him in the Midlands until 2028. The Scottish midfielder joined Villa from Hibernian in 2018 and has since made 300 appearances.
During his time at the club, McGinn played a key role in securing promotion from the Championship in 2019 and maintaining Premier League status in 2020. Under head coach Unai Emery, he has been instrumental in guiding the team through three consecutive European campaigns.
Appointed captain by Steven Gerrard in 2022, McGinn has earned admiration for his leadership and versatility. In recent months, he has covered various positions — stepping in as a right midfielder, playing as a number ten, and partnering in midfield to compensate for injuries to Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara.
The extension marks a decade-long journey with Villa, and Emery views McGinn as one of the foundational figures shaping the club’s future. With new deals also finalized for Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, and Kamara, Emery believes the team now has the leadership core needed for continued progress.
“Three years we are together, and in those three years he showed us and he showed me how he is leading the team in all the moments. The most important thing is how he responds on the field. He is a very versatile player, helping us as a midfielder, as a winger, as a number ten,”
— Unai Emery
Summary
Unai Emery praised captain John McGinn’s renewed contract, emphasizing his leadership and adaptability as vital to Aston Villa’s long-term growth.