West Ham's Wan‑Bissaka joins Aston Villa on loan
August 21, 2026 12:24
Aston Villa have secured West Ham right-back Aaron Wan‑Bissaka on a season‑long loan that includes a conditional obligation to make the transfer permanent. The precise trigger conditions and fee for the buy option have not been disclosed.
The full‑back, 28, missed West Ham’s first two Championship fixtures while talks over his return to the Premier League were ongoing. He could be available for Villa’s opening match away to Brighton on Sunday and will join a squad preparing for Champions League football.
KEY CONTEXT
- West Ham had reportedly been seeking around £25m for Wan‑Bissaka, but the final details of Villa’s conditional purchase clause were not made public.
- Villa recently used a similar loan‑with‑obligation model when signing Harvey Elliott from Liverpool; that agreement would only have become permanent if Elliott played 10 league games, a threshold he did not reach.
- Wan‑Bissaka signed for West Ham on a seven‑year deal in 2024 after an extended spell at Manchester United. He has made 65 appearances for the Hammers across two seasons, including 25 in the campaign that ended in their relegation to the Championship.
WHY IT MATTERS
Villa add an experienced, Premier League‑proven full‑back who has played at the highest level for club and country. Wan‑Bissaka’s arrival strengthens their defensive options as they prepare for both domestic and European commitments under Unai Emery, following a season in which Villa finished fourth and won the Europa League.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- The exact terms of the conditional obligation to buy and whether any performance or appearance clauses will activate a permanent transfer.
- Whether Wan‑Bissaka features against Brighton in Villa’s first game of the season.
- How he integrates into Unai Emery’s setup, particularly given Villa’s Champions League schedule.
KEY FACTS
- Player: Aaron Wan‑Bissaka, 28, DR Congo right‑back.
- Move: Season‑long loan from West Ham to Aston Villa with a conditional obligation to buy; terms undisclosed.
- West Ham appearances: 65 for the club overall; 25 in the most recent season.
- Previous club: Manchester United — 190 appearances; won the League Cup (2023) and FA Cup (2024).
- International: Started all four of DR Congo’s matches at the 2026 World Cup; DR Congo reached the round of 32.