Aston Villa’s 2026/27 season was always going to have its share of teething problems after a summer of immense change at the club.
Unai Emery’s side started slowly as new signings bedded in, and what was more concerning in the opening few weeks was the performances of more experienced players who were expected to carry the standard over from the old era to the new.
Perhaps the central figure of that discourse has been Boubacar Kamara, and thankfully for Villa fans, he has turned a corner in recent games and looks back to his best.
In the first six games Kamara played this season including the UEFA Super Cup, WhoScored gave him an average match rating of 6.55 out of 10. In the last five, his average has been 7.31.
For context, Kamara’s average in games he played at least 45 minutes last season was 7.11. That was better than any other player Villa, although the caveat must be applied that he only played more than 45 minutes 18 times due to his season ending early with injury.
That injury was the second significant knee issue in less than two years, and that more than anything else led Villa fans’ worries that he did not look like the same player.
But realistically it was always going to take consistent game time for him to find his feet again after not playing a competitive match since January.
Other complexities were Youri Tielemans’ departure for Manchester United in the summer, and Amadou Onana’s knee injury which ruled him out for most of the season. Kamara returned from injury to a very different midfield from the one he previously played in.
He has had to get used to new combinations, playing seven games alongside Joao Gomes and four with Ross Barkley in all competitions so far.
Even as Villa’s results started to turn more positive, Kamara still seemed to be lagging a bit behind, but has kicked into another gear in the last week or so, putting in vintage performances against Fenerbahce, Newcastle and most recently Manchester City.
He assisted Nicolas Jackson’s first goal against the Turkish side after nipping in to steal the ball in Fenerbahce’s half and battled tirelessly to help close out victories in Villa’s last two Premier League games.
Everyone knows what the Frenchman can do in the defensive third and in possession, but his work rate this season has been notable. Kamara ranks 7th in distance covered in the Premier League as of writing, and has been working hard to get into advanced positions and support attacks.
It is no coincidence that as Villa’s results have improved of late, Kamara has been at the forefront, hitting the kind of heights Villa fans have become accustomed to seeing in recent seasons.
There is a reason many fans believed he was the club’s best player, despite attention being drawn by the variety of players who left Villa in the summer. In the last few games, Kamara has reminded everyone of his immense quality and his importance to Emery’s team.
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