Aaron Wan-Bissaka joins Aston Villa on loan ahead of Premier League opener against Brighton

Unai Emery’s Villa have completed the signing of Aaron Wan-Bissaka from West Ham on a season-long loan, with the deal including a conditional obligation to buy.

The 28-year-old DR Congo international, who represented his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, becomes the latest addition to Unai Emery’s squad ahead of the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Villa confirmed the move on Friday, with Wan-Bissaka returning to the Premier League after two seasons at West Ham.

The right-back began his senior career at Crystal Palace, progressing through the club’s academy before establishing himself in the first team. His performances earned him a move to Manchester United, where he spent five years and won both the FA Cup and EFL Cup.

Wan-Bissaka made nearly 200 appearances for United before moving to east London, where he spent the last two campaigns with West Ham.

His arrival gives Emery another experienced option at right-back, with Matty Cash having been Villa’s established choice in the position.

The signing comes at a significant point in Villa’s preparations, with the club having undergone substantial change during the summer after a 2025/26 campaign that saw them finish fourth in the Premier League and win the Europa League.

Villa have seen several senior players depart during the transfer window, including Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa. The latter has joined Arsenal, while Emiliano Martinez’s future also remains a major talking point and Ollie Watkins has attracted interest.

At the same time, Villa have moved to reshape their squad with a number of younger additions. Johan Manzambi has arrived from Freiburg for a club-record fee, while goalkeeper Zion Suzuki and left-back Matteo Ruggeri have also joined.

The scale of the changes means Emery faces the challenge of integrating a number of new faces while maintaining the standards that took Villa back into the Champions League and secured European silverware last season.

Wan-Bissaka’s arrival could therefore prove particularly useful as Villa prepare for another demanding campaign across domestic and European competition.

Villa begin new Premier League campaign at Brighton

The first test comes on Sunday, when Villa travel to the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion in their opening Premier League fixture of the season.

The match kicks off at 2pm on Sunday, August 23, with Brighton confirmed as the hosts for the opening weekend.

Villa head into the fixture with a strong recent record against the Seagulls, having won both meetings last season.

The first produced a remarkable 4-3 victory for Villa at the Amex in December, while the return fixture at Villa Park ended 1-0 in February after an own goal.

Villa also won on their previous visit to the Amex, recording a 3-0 victory as Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen all scored after half-time.

However, none of the players who scored or assisted in that victory remain at Villa, underlining just how different the squad looks heading into this season.

Villa have won three of the last four meetings with Brighton and remain unbeaten in those matches, while they have lost only once in their last 11 encounters with the Seagulls.

The fixture will provide an early indication of how quickly Emery’s revamped squad can settle, particularly with the club facing another season of European football alongside their Premier League commitments.

Brighton have also experienced some change during the summer, although not on the same scale as their opponents.

Jan Paul van Hecke has departed for Tottenham, while Pascal Struijk and Luka Vuskovic have arrived to strengthen the defensive options. The Seagulls have also said goodbye to experienced players including James Milner, Adam Webster, Solly March and Joel Veltman.

There is, however, an element of continuity on both sides of Sunday’s fixture.

Villa remain under Emery, while Brighton continue with Fabian Hurzeler after the German’s first season in charge. That stability could be important for both teams as they attempt to negotiate the disruption caused by summer transfers.

For Villa, though, the bigger question is whether the extensive turnover can be absorbed quickly enough.

The club’s Europa League triumph and fourth-place Premier League finish last season set a high benchmark, but the squad has changed considerably since then. The arrival of Wan-Bissaka adds further experience to the group, but Emery will need his new-look side to find cohesion quickly.

Sunday’s trip to Brighton therefore represents more than simply the first fixture of a new Premier League campaign. It is Villa’s first opportunity to show that last season’s success can provide a platform for further progress, despite the significant changes made over the summer.

And with Wan-Bissaka now part of the squad, Villa have added another experienced Premier League defender as they prepare to begin the next chapter of the Emery era.