Aston Villa handed huge boost as key man agrees new contract

The club had been increasingly confident of securing a deal for one of their most important players, who has just two years remaining on his existing contract and striking an agreement now is significant in what has so far been a tricky summer.

Kamara’s future was among those called into question when Villa failed to qualify for this season’s Champions League, with the France international eager to continue competing at the highest possible level.

But Villa’s hierarchy have been able to convince him of the club’s long-term ambitions and he has agreed a deal through to 2030 which is also thought to include a healthy pay rise.

Kamara has made 91 appearances in all competitions since joining on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, with the former Marseille-man’s signing arguably one of the biggest positives to emerge from Steven Gerrard’s 11-month reign as head coach.

He has since gone on to become an integral part of Villa’s resurgence under Emery, again impressing last season after returning from a serious knee injury.

Villa, meanwhile, are understood to have told Manchester United that Ollie Watkins is not for sale this summer.

Watkins is thought to be on the Red Devils’ shortlist as they hunt a new centre-forward but Villa are not willing to part with their top scorer from each of the last five seasons.