Counting Down the Days Until We’re Back: Anticipation Builds for Aston Villa’s New Season
BIRMINGHAM – The clocks are ticking, the calendars are marked, and the streets around Villa Park are already humming with excitement. With just days left before Aston Villa kicks off their much-anticipated 2025/26 campaign, the phrase on every fan’s lips – and every official club social media post – is clear: “Counting down the days until we’re back.”
After a thrilling previous season that saw Villa secure a historic top-four finish and a long-awaited return to the UEFA Champions League, the atmosphere among the Villa faithful is reaching fever pitch. Supporters are calling this “the most exciting pre-season in decades,” not just for the football to come, but for the sense of ambition radiating from the club’s boardroom to the training ground.
Manager Unai Emery has been quick to temper expectations while still acknowledging the enormous sense of optimism. Speaking to The Birmingham Chronicle, Emery said:
> “We know the fans are counting the days, and so are we. This summer has been about building—not just in terms of players, but in spirit. We are ready to compete at the highest level, but we must also stay grounded and focused on the work ahead.”
New Faces, Fresh Energy
Villa’s summer transfer business has further fuelled the hype. With the high-profile arrivals of Brazilian playmaker Matheus Carvalho from Porto and Dutch defensive rock Jurgen van Dijk from PSV, the squad looks deeper and more balanced than ever. Add to that the return of academy starlet Lewis McKay from his loan at Swansea, and there’s a sense that Villa are combining fresh energy with experienced leadership.
Captain John McGinn expressed his own excitement during the club’s pre-season media day:
> “I’ve been here for years now, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt such a buzz. The fans have been amazing all summer—everywhere we’ve gone, whether it’s Asia for pre-season or back home in Birmingham, you can feel it. We can’t wait to walk out at Villa Park again.”
Villa Park’s Grand Stage
Speaking of Villa Park, fans will be returning to a stadium that has undergone significant improvements during the off-season. The first phase of the planned expansion is complete, with enhanced seating comfort, upgraded concourses, and the introduction of a state-of-the-art lighting system designed to make European nights truly unforgettable. The capacity boost, while modest in this initial stage, is part of the club’s broader vision to transform Villa Park into a world-class venue capable of hosting major finals.
Club CEO Christian Purslow noted,
> “We wanted the fans to see that we’re investing not just in players, but in their matchday experience. We know the homecoming game will be special, and Villa Park will be ready to match the occasion.”
The Season Ahead
The fixture list has done Villa no favours in terms of easing into the new campaign. They open at home against reigning champions Manchester City, a mouth-watering clash that will test their readiness immediately. Following that, an away trip to Anfield and an early Champions League group stage opener mean that Emery’s men will need to hit the ground running.
Yet for the Villa faithful, that’s exactly how they want it. The challenge of taking on Europe’s elite and the Premier League’s powerhouses head-on is a far cry from the relegation battles of not so long ago.
Longtime season ticket holder and supporter’s club chairwoman, Margaret Holloway, summed it up perfectly:
> “I’ve been through the ups and downs with this club for over 40 years. Now, every morning I wake up and think, ‘Is it matchday yet?’ It’s more than football—it’s a sense that Villa are back where they belong.”
Countdown Fever
With the official club social media accounts posting daily countdown graphics, and local businesses decking their storefronts in claret and blue, the city of Birmingham feels poised for something special. Fans are snapping up merchandise, ticket sales are near record levels, and the atmosphere is building to what promises to be a spectacular home opener.
The clock is ticking. The anticipation is electric. And as the final days slip away, one thing is certain: for Aston Villa fans everywhere, this isn’t just about waiting for football to return—it’s about believing that a new chapter, perhaps the most thrilling in decades, is about to be written.
For them, the countdown isn’t just to the start of a season.
It’s to the continuation of a dream.