(Credit: Imago/Manh Tung - Breaking Media)

James Murray

Wed 15 April 2026 18:00, UK

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Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is proving to be an “amazing success story” following his exploits at Villa Park. 

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider it would be a “major achievement” if Villa can qualify for the Champions League this season.

Emery’s side currently sit fourth in the Premier League table, seven points above sixth-place Chelsea, with five Champions League places on offer for top-flight clubs.

The West Midlands giants are also on course to reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, having secured a 3-1 victory over Bologna in the first leg of their quarter-final tie last week.

Villa have benefited financially from their European exploits, with a potential return to the Champions League set to provide them with a further boost. 

How Aston Villa recorded £17m profit

Villa’s revenue increased dramatically from £276million in 2023-24 to £378m after reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. 

Meanwhile, the club posted a pre-tax profit of £17m in 2024-25, marking a significant improvement on the £85m loss they suffered the previous year. 

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson discussed Villa’s latest accounts and the importance of qualifying for the Champions League.

“The profit is partly about selling the women’s team and selling this facility they’ve got called the Warehouse,” said Borson.

“The reality is that even in the Champions League season for Aston Villa, you’ve still got a challenge on the operating side because the overall non-Champions League revenue is still too low, and they’ve still got a journey to go to build that up. That will take time and they’ll have to have repeated success in the Champions League.

“What they’ve done unbelievably well this season is they’re under these restrictions from Uefa, with not huge spending in the summer, with very careful negotiation actually, not even with all of their big players sort of hitting the ground this season.

“A lot of them haven’t even played that particularly well, but somehow they’re in the position where they could be in the Champions League.” 

How Aston Villa are closing in on ‘amazing achievement’

Borson praised Emery for his work at Villa Park as he looks to help his side secure Champions League football this season.

“They are able to qualify in two different routes into the Champions League,” said Borson.

“It would just be an amazing achievement to get there for the second year out of three and in the other year to win the Europa League, if that’s what happens. 

“I just think it’s the most amazing success story for Emery. It’s making Villa’s life so much easier than it would have been had it not been as successful.

“Just to manage to achieve that off the cost base that they’re probably going to have this season is actually a major achievement.”