Premier League 24/25: Aston Villa squad, starting XI and odds

With the 2024/25 Premier League season now half-way through, Ladbrokes takes you through Aston Villa's squad, their chances of finishing in the top four, and what their starting XI has looked lile.

Villa shocked the world last season by finishing in fourth, securing themselves a spot in the revamped Champions League for next season, a major achievement for a club who were playing in the Championship only a few years ago.

Unai Emery and co will be hoping to prove that they aren't just a flash in the pan but are here to stay right at the pinnacle of the Premier League, and they've done that by adding to their squad in a big way.

With all that said, Ladbrokes takes you through Aston Villa's squad for the Premier League season and their odds of finishing inside the top six.

Below is the squad that Aston Villa will be taking into the Premier League this season, which has seen a few additions (and sales) compared to last campaign.

• Emiliano Martinez, Joe Gauci, Robin Olsen
• Matty Cash, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Kosta Nedelikovic, Ian Maatsen, Kain Kesler-Hayden, Kortney Hause, Lina Sousa, Finley Munroe
• Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana, Kane Taylor
• Emi Buendia, Ollie Watkins, Jhon Duran, Morgan Rogers, Leon Bailey, Jaden Philogene
  

Aston Villa have completed a host of exciting transfers ahead of the 2024/25 season, aiming to qualify for the Champions League once again.

In terms of incomings, Amadou Onana moves to Villa from Everton, whilst Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenchea join the club as part of the deal which saw Douglas Luiz leave for Juventus.

Both players have immediately departed the club on loan for the season though, with Iling-Junior set to play his football at Bologna back in Italy, and Barrenchea moving on to Valencia until May 2025.

Also joining the club and immediately leaving is Yeimar Mosquera, who signs for Real Union on loan having just joined Aston Villa from Orsomarso.

Villa beat Dortmund and other top clubs to the signing of Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, whilst a deal for Lewis Dobbin to join from Everton saw Tim Iroegbunam move the other way. Dobbin won't be at Villa for the season though, as he's already left for West Brom on loan.

Cameron Archer and Ross Barkley returned to Villa from Sheffiled United and Luton Town respectively, both of whom were relegated from the Premier League last season. However, Archer has left once again on a permanent deal, this time to Southampton.

Jaden Philogene also returned to Villa Park on a permanent basis having only moved to Hull last year, but unlike Archer, he'll be remaining at the club for at least the first half of the season.

With one eye to the future, Kane Taylor has joined the club from Man City. Whether he features this season remains to be seen, but hopes are quite high for the youth prospect.

Morgan Sanson joined Nice on a permanent deal, whilst Villa lost talented youngster Omari Kellyman to Chelsea, albeit for a healthy fee worth just shy of £20m.

Philippe Coutinho left on loan once again, this time to Vasco da Gama back in Brazil, whilst Calum Chambers was released from his contract, becoming a free agent in the process. Josh Feeney and Rico Richards also left the club on loan, this time to Shrewsbury and Port Vale.

Leander Dendoncker has also departed, returning to Anderlecht on Belgium on loan. In terms of the other outgoings, Seb Raven joined Wrexham, Ben Chrisene moved to Norwich, Viljami Sinisalo joined Celtic and Moussa Diaby, who rejected a move to Saudi Arabia only last year in favour of a move to Villa, joined Al Ittihad for over £50m.

Elsewhere, Alex Moreno has left Villa Park to join Nottingham Forest on loan for the season, allowing Maatsen and Lucas Digne to fight it out for a spot at left-back, whilst Finley Munroe has also left on loan, this time for Real Union.

Unai Emery established a strong starting XI towards the end of the 2023/24 season, helping Villa secure European football, and he's was always going to roughly bring the same side into the 24/25 campaign.

Emiliano Martinez starts in goal, with Ezri Konsa playing as a right-back, forming a back-three with the other two centre-backs whilst the left-back either steps inside into midfield or joins the attack.

Filling those centre-back slots are two of Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres, with depth key for Villa as they compete in four competitions next season.

The left-back slot is filled by Digne or new signing Maatsen, with Emery beyond stacked in that area of the pitch.

The midfield sees Amadou Onana, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans form a solid trio, with Jacob Ramsey, Ross Barkley and Boubacar Kamar able to come in and play when Villa expect to dominate the ball.

With Moussa Diaby leaving for Saudi Arabia, Emi Buendia, Morgan Rogers, Leon Bailey and Philogene fight it out for the two wing slots.

Ollie Watkins was always going to eb starting every single game that he's fit for as the striker after a solid Euro 2024 campaign with England, but Jhon Duran has done well when called upon, either as a starter or a substitute.

It's Liverpool who are favourites to win the Premier League for the first time since 2020, ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Man City, with the favourites going through a major rebuild following Jurgen Klopp's exit.

Villa have been given barely any chance of winning the Premier League next season, being after defying expectations to secure Champions League this year, could they go one further and shock the world once again?

Finishing in the top six is definitely achievable for Villa though, with the bookies giving them a 18% shot of being one of the six best teams in England's top-flight this season.

It's seen as very unlikely that Villa get relegated too. Man City actually are seen as being more likely to get relegated to the Championship next season by the bookies.

However, that's because of a potential points deduction coming the reigning Premier League champion's way, rather than because of their on-pitch work.

Aston Villa kicked off their 2024/25 Premier League season with a trip to London to face West Ham, where they beat the Hammers 2-1 in a hard-fought game. Their first home game took place the following week, and was a 1-0 loss to Arsenal, which many fans thought they should have won.

It was Man United on October 5 at Villa Park, with that game ending in a goalless draw. An away trip to Tottenham took place the following month on November 2, ending in an surprising 4-1 loss.

A game against Liverpool at Anfield came just seven days later, which that ending in a 2-0 loss. Another tricky away game took place on November 30, this time against Chelsea, ending in a 3-0 loss.

Unai Emery's side beat Man City 2-1 on December 21 at Villa Park, having beaten the reigning champions at home last season.

Villa then travelled to Arsenal on January 18, drawing that game 2-2, before Liverpool come to Villa Park on February 19. A few days later, Villa also hosted another of England's best times, this time beating Chelsea 2-1. Then, Man City host Emery's men on April 26 as we enter the run-in.

Villa have a tricky final two games after travelling to Bournemouth on May 10, with a home game against Tottenham on May 18, and an away trip to Man United as their final game of the season on May 25.

Ladbrokes recently looked at the odds for each of the 20 teams competing in the Premier League this season, starting with Man City and working our way down to Ipswich and Southampton, who the bookies have given a 0.13% chance of winning England's top-flight come May 2025.

View the latest football odds.

All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.