Aston Villa seal a blockbuster deal for ‘essential’ midfielder and it’s the best news we’ve had all summer
Aston Villa have reportedly secured the long-term commitment of one of their most important players.
Hot on the heels of John Percy’s report this afternoon that Villa were close to a new contract agreement with Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Tanswell and The Athletic tore out a thundering exclusive confirming that the deal is done.
Kamara joined Villa on a free transfer in 2022 and his original contract was set to expire in the summer of 2027, making a renewal a top priority ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The 25-year-old France international has become an essential player under Unai Emery and is all but irreplaceable given Villa’s current financial circumstances. He has inevitably attracted attention from elsewhere but Tanswell and David Ornstein report that he has now committed to the club despite Villa’s failure to qualify for the Champions League for next season.
“There is a widely held school of thought that Kamara is Villa’s most important player, which is why they are so determined to keep him,” writes Tanswell.
“The midfielder had been keeping his options open at the end of last season, following Villa narrowly missing out on Champions League football, with several high-calibre clubs interested, as well as admiration from Saudi Arabia.
Villa’s midfield ‘glue’
“The France international is the glue in Villa’s midfield and has struck up an excellent partnership with Villa’s best player last season, Youri Tielemans.”
Kamara has played 97 times for Villa in all competitions since joining the club from Marseille three years ago and has been a fixture of the team when fit, making 70 Premier League appearances in all.
His destructive abilities and reading of the game are the most obvious attributes but his natural comfort in possession, his balance on the ball and his awareness of what’s around him make a vital rhythm-setter in the middle of the pitch too.
In terms of protecting the ball, Kamara is on a par with Villa captain John McGinn, albeit with a wholly different physical approach.
Kamara could be especially important this season. With Emery experimenting with his tactics in Villa’s pre-season friendlies so far, Kamara has been tasked with adapting to a different defensive shape and movements behind him.
Should Villa operate in 2025/26 with a fixed back three or an in-possession back three made up of two central defenders and a full-back, Kamara would have less responsibility than the average defensive midfielder when it comes to dropping deep to bolster the back line.
Villa might be looking at a few changes on the pitch. Kamara being a constant is the best news we’ve had all summer.
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