By Oscar Woods 
Finding the right successor for Douglas Luiz remains one of Unai Emery’s most pressing challenges at Aston Villa. The Brazilian midfielder departed for Juventus in summer 2024, leaving a significant gap in the midfield that the club has been working to fill ever since.
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The Kamara Setback
Boubacar Kamara appeared to have solved the Douglas Luiz puzzle. The French midfielder signed a new contract with Villa in July 2025, extending his deal until 2030. He was performing at his best before disaster struck. January 2026 brought another serious knee injury during an FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur. The same knee that kept him out for eight months with an ACL injury in 2024 has been affected again. Scans confirmed the worst: Kamara will miss the rest of the season.
This represents a massive blow for Villa. The 25 year old had become the most important player in Emery’s squad. Stats from the 2025/2026 season show Villa lost just twice in games where Kamara started. His ability to control matches while allowing teammates like Youri Tielemans to play more attacking roles made him irreplaceable.
Bogarde Steps Up
Lamare Bogarde has emerged as an unexpected solution. The 21 year old Dutchman joined Villa’s academy from Feyenoord in 2020 and spent time on loan at Bristol Rovers. This season he’s been given opportunities in midfield and has grabbed them with both hands.
Bogarde already has 17 appearances in the 2025/2026 campaign. His passing accuracy in the Premier League sits at 93.3 per cent, better than 96.3 per cent of midfielders in the top flight. The versatile player can slot into defense when needed, but his performances in central midfield have been the most encouraging.
Against Basel in the Europa League, Bogarde stepped up his level with a versatile performance that showed why Emery trusts him in big moments. His development has accelerated over the past 12 months, with the young midfielder proving he belongs at this level.
The Mouzakitis Factor
Meanwhile, Villa have been tracking Olympiacos teenager Christos Mouzakitis for months. The 18 year old midfielder has taken 15 shots for Olympiacos in the league this season, with 11 of them coming from outside the box. His ability to strike from distance addresses something missing in Villa’s current setup.
Olympiacos placed a £26.3 million asking price for Mouzakitis after Villa rekindled their interest ahead of the January transfer window. The Greek international averages 1.39 tackles per game and creates 1.26 chances per 90 minutes. Compare that to Luiz’s final Villa season: 1.59 chances created per match and 1.74 tackles won per game. The numbers aren’t far off.
What makes Mouzakitis appealing is his two way game. He averages an 81.8 per cent dribble success rate and can play across multiple midfield positions. At just 18, he has already earned seven senior caps for Greece and featured in the Champions League against Real Madrid.
Competition for Signatures
Villa face stiff competition for Mouzakitis. Arsenal, Manchester United and several European giants are also monitoring the teenager. The player reportedly prefers a move to Real Madrid, where manager Xabi Alonso is an admirer.
Reports in December 2025 indicated Villa, along with Arsenal and Manchester United, were accelerating their pursuit. The bidding war reflects how highly rated the young midfielder has become across Europe.
Internal Options
Emery still has options within his squad. Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana provide quality in the middle of the park. Ross Barkley has contributed when called upon. John McGinn brings experience and versatility, though he has also dealt with injury concerns recently.
The problem is none of these players fully replicate what Luiz offered. The Brazilian scored nine goals and provided five assists in his final Premier League season at Villa. He topped the charts for Villa midfielders in progressive passes, carries into the final third and chances created.
What Happens Next
Villa’s Champions League ambitions and busy schedule demand midfield reinforcement. With Kamara sidelined until next season, the January window becomes critical. Whether the club moves for Mouzakitis now or waits until summer remains to be seen.
Bogarde’s emergence provides some breathing room. His rapid development gives Emery a reliable option who understands the system. But for Villa to compete on multiple fronts, more quality is needed.
The search for Emery’s Douglas Luiz replacement at Aston Villa continues. Kamara looked like the answer before injury struck. Bogarde is proving himself worthy of more opportunities. Mouzakitis represents an exciting long term investment. The next few months will determine which direction Villa take in finally filling that Brazilian shaped hole in their midfield.