Football Manager 2024 has been released live on Steam through early access and fans of the popular game are already sinking their teeth into the latest edition.
The series is now over 30-year old and an impressive worldwide database of clubs, players and staff gives gamers the opportunity to take charge of their beloved clubs and attempt to guide them to unprecedented successes. Just for fun, we simulated three years into the future with the new game to see how clubs across the Premier League and the rest of the world had fared.
Here is how the Aston Villa starting XI looked in our simulation at the close of the 2026 summer transfer window:
1. GK - Emiliano Martinez
Still first choice for club and country at 34-years old while Oliwier Zych and Filip Marschall serve as back-ups | Getty Images
2. RB - Djed Spence
Had loan spells away from Spurs with Rennes, Leeds and Benfica before Villa brought him in on loan in 2025 and made the move permanent for £11.75m in 2026 | Getty Images
3. LB - Marco Friedl
The Austrian international had seven seasons with SV Werder before Villa paid £15.75m for his services in the summer of 2026 | Getty Images
4. CB - Pau Torres
Hardly misses a game in his first three years at Villa Park and regularly picks up MotM awards but manages just one goal | Getty Images