Unai Emery signs new five-year contract at Aston Villa as he commits his long-term future to the club after securing Champions League football

Unai Emery has signed a new five-year contract with Aston Villa.

Emery guided Villa to a sensational fourth-placed Premier League finish, securing them Champions League football for the first time in their history.

He had extended his deal until 2027 in April after holding talks with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens and has further pledged his future to Villa Park with fresh terms likely to see him become one of the highest-paid managers in Europe.

'I am very happy to take this step and the responsibility of leading this club,' Emery said. 'Since I came to Villa with Wes and Nassef we found always the best environment and structure to develop a project with the highest ambition.

'All the football structure with Monchi and Damian [Vidagany] and the owners, we share the same vision and same goals.

'There's a great chemistry in Aston Villa. And the element of the fans' support also makes the difference to feel like home. 

'We are really excited to continue this journey with no limits to our dreams.'

Emery had replaced Steven Gerrard in the hot seat in October 2022 and propelled Villa from 17th to seventh - and into European football - during his first campaign.

Villa also reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League this season.

After Emery helped the club finish in the top four in his second season, tying him down with a lucrative new deal became an immediate priority for the hierarchy.

'We are building something special here at Aston Villa with Unai at its core and we are delighted that he has signed a new deal with the club until 2029,' Sawiris said. 

'As we move into our historic, 150th anniversary year, there is a lot to look forward to with Unai at the helm.'

Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are thought to have expressed interest in Emery earlier this month in their search for a permanent successor to Thomas Tuchel.