Emi Buendia sparked Aston Villa career back to life vs Fulham, now he must haunt them again
Emi Buendia must be entrusted by Unai Emery to lead Aston Villa to victory when taking on Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The 29-year-old appears to have fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park in recent weeks, despite scoring in the 4-0 win against Bologna in the Europa League last week.
His last Premier League start came against Man United in the middle of March, playing the full 90 minutes in the 3-1 defeat, but he has only racked up 45 minutes in domestic competitions since.
With all three points in West London on Saturday, 25 April, though, Villa can all but secure Champions League qualification, currently sitting eight points clear of sixth place with five games to go.
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VISIT THE VILLA MATCH HUBEmi Buendia must repeat Fulham stardom at Craven Cottage
Buendia’s rise back to the top has been quite the surprise for those at Villa Park this season, with many expecting the Argentinian to be sold during the last summer transfer window.
Leeds United were one of the clubs interested in his signature, but Emery will be counting his blessings that no transfer was sanctioned, with the player now boasting eight goals and seven assists in all competitions.
It was Villa’s clash with the Cottagers back in September that saw Buendia spark his career back to life in the Midlands, assisting John McGinn’s second-half goal before slotting home just two minutes later.
| Emi Buendia vs Fulham | Stats [FotMob] |
| Minutes played | 45 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 1 |
| Chances created | 1 |
| Passes into final third | 4 |
| Recoveries | 3 |
| Ground duels won | 20% (1/5) |
In the blink of an eye, the attacking midfielder had earned back the respect of the supporters, and they will be hoping for more of the same against Marco Silva’s side this weekend.
What does Buendia’s future hold at Aston Villa?
The 29-year-old’s current deal expires in the summer of 2027, meaning that he’s about to enter into the final 12 months of his contract, with no movement over a potential new deal.
Football Insider understands that Villa have plans to sit down with Buendia, though, and another superb display against the Cottagers could remind the hierarchy of what he brings to the team.
During the 2025-26 campaign, he has played a huge role in the club’s success, but his form has certainly curtailed over the last few matches, raising questions about his future at Villa Park.
Clubs across Europe are likely to be keeping tabs on the situation, and should the Villans fail to secure him on new terms, he would be a bargain signing for anyone else.
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