Aston Villa have moved to reward Emi Buendia after a sharp and timely resurgence, with Daily Mail reporting that talks are under way over a new deal for the Argentine playmaker. His current contract runs until June 2027, and Villa also hold an option for a further 12 months, but the club clearly do not want this to drift.

That makes sense. Contract management matters, especially when a player has gone from peripheral figure to trusted contributor in a short space of time. Buendia has become increasingly important to Unai Emery, and Villa are acting before they risk allowing him to edge too close to the final phase of his agreement.

The shift has been significant. As recently as summer 2025, Buendia was described as so far down the pecking order that he was “even proposed to city rivals Birmingham”. Now he is back in the conversation for all the right reasons.

His big moments have carried weight. Buendia “scored one of the goals of the season” as Villa beat Freiburg 3-2 in Istanbul last May to win the Europa League, their first major trophy since 1996. He then followed that with another eye-catching strike in the 3-2 win at Tottenham before the international break, his third goal in as many matches at Spurs’ ground.

Emery made his feelings plain last November. “Everything that happened around him, he deserved it because he worked hard to recover his best form as a player,” he said. It is a fair summary. Buendia has had to force his way back, and there is usually value in a player who responds that way.

Emery added: “When we decided to keep him here, and he decided to stay here as well, I was confident he could get the numbers he is achieving.” That is the key point. This is not sentiment, it is output. Villa are not discussing a new contract because of reputation or memory. They are doing it because Buendia has produced.

From an Aston Villa supporter’s perspective, this feels overdue. Buendia has had to be patient, and to be honest, many of us probably thought his time had passed. He looked like one of those talented players who would always be remembered for flashes rather than substance. Fair play to him, he has changed that narrative.

What stands out is the mentality. To go from being effectively available, even to Birmingham according to the report, to becoming one of Emery’s trusted attackers tells you plenty. Players can sulk in that situation. He has done the opposite. He has worked, waited and delivered when it mattered.