The season that just happened
Europa League champions, 2026
The 2025–26 season was one to tell people about for years. Villa finished 4th in the Premier League under Unai Emery, then went all the way in the Europa League — beating Nottingham Forest over two legs in the semi-final before thumping SC Freiburg 3–0 in the final in Istanbul on 20 May 2026.
It was the club's first major trophy since the League Cup back in 1996, and only the second European title in Villa's history after the 1982 European Cup. A run of eleven straight wins across all competitions earlier in the season also equalled club records set in 1897 and 1914. The result sealed Champions League qualification for the new season too.
2025–26 in numbers
- Premier League finish 4th
- Europa League Winners
- Top scorer Ollie Watkins
- Trophy drought ended 30 years
Why Villa
The claret and blue bit
Claret and blue isn't a plan you make, it's one you inherit — and this season made it feel like the best decision I never actually got to make. Watching Ollie Watkins lift a European trophy for this club is the kind of thing you wait a lifetime for. — Callum Mather
Games I've been to
Standout days out
A few matches from my Villa history worth a mention.
Europa Conference League · QF 1st Leg
Villa 2–1 Lille
John McGinn opened the scoring with a long-range strike from the edge of the box, before Ollie Watkins doubled the lead — one of the great Villa Park European nights.
Friendly · Game #1
Villa 0–0 Watford
The very first Villa match I ever went to — Villa were playing Championship football at the time, having been relegated the season before, so this was the quiet start of a lifelong habit.
Premier League
Villa 4–0 Everton
Douglas Luiz scored from the penalty spot as Villa opened the season with a ruthless 4-0 win over Everton.
Championship
Villa 4–0 Derby County
Jack Grealish scored an absolute stunner — a dipping, first-time volley from the edge of the box — right in front of me during Villa's promotion-season charge.
Following the club
My 2025–26 season
Five Premier League games watched live so far this season — and not a single defeat among them.
Results split
- Wins — 3 (60%)
- Draws — 2 (40%)
- Losses — 0 (0%)
Goals for vs against
- Goals for
- Goals against
Record attendance set at Everton away — Bramley Moore Dock, their new stadium.