Emiliano Buendía
Argentine footballer.
Emiliano Buendía Stati is an Argentine professional footballer who currently plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Premier League club Aston Villa. He has made a significant impact in both English and Spanish football. His career has been marked by steady progression and notable achievements across different leagues and clubs.Buendía's professional journey began at Getafe in Spain, where he spent four years developing his skills and gaining valuable experience in La Liga and Segunda División. During this time, he also had a loan spell with Cultural Leonesa, which helped further his development. In 2018, Buendía made a pivotal move to England, joining Norwich City in the Championship.
His performances were instrumental in Norwich's promotion to the Premier League, and he continued to impress in the top flight despite the club's relegation.In 2021, Buendía's talents caught the attention of Aston Villa, who signed him for a club-record fee. This transfer marked a significant milestone in his career, cementing his status as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in the Premier League. Throughout his career, Buendía has been known for his creativity, vision, and ability to contribute both goals and assists. His journey from Argentina to becoming a key player in the English top flight showcases his adaptability and continuous growth as a footballer.
Early life & youth football
Emiliano Buendía's early life and youth career laid the foundation for his successful professional career. Born in Mar del Plata, Argentina, Buendía showed promise from a young age. He began his football journey with local clubs before catching the eye of Spanish scouts. In 2009, at the age of 13, Buendía joined the youth academy of Real Madrid, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world. This move was a significant step in his development, exposing him to high-level coaching and competition.After a year with Real Madrid's youth setup, Buendía moved to Getafe in 2010.
He spent the next four years progressing through Getafe's youth ranks, honing his skills and adapting to Spanish football. During this time, Buendía's technical abilities and tactical understanding of the game improved significantly, preparing him for the challenges of professional football.
Professional career
His debut season marked Buendía's transition from youth football to senior level. At 18 years old, he split his time between Getafe B and the first team. With Getafe B in the Segunda División B (third tier), Buendía made approximately 12 appearances, gaining valuable experience in senior football. His performances at this level caught the attention of the first-team coaches, leading to his La Liga debut for Getafe on February 15, 2015, against Almería.
He made a total of 7 appearances for the senior team in La Liga, mostly as a substitute. This season was crucial for Buendía's development, as he adapted to the physicality and pace of senior football. His technical skills and vision, honed in Getafe's youth academy, began to shine through even in limited minutes. The season also saw Buendía receive international recognition, with a call-up to the Spain U19 team on November 13, 2014, highlighting his potential.
This dual experience with Getafe B and the first team laid the foundation for Buendía's future career, providing him with a taste of top-flight football while allowing him to develop consistently at a lower level.Building on his breakthrough the previous year, Buendía continued to divide his time between Getafe B and the first team. With Getafe B, he made approximately 15 appearances, becoming a key player in the Segunda División B. His performances at this level were increasingly impressive, showcasing his playmaking abilities and eye for goal.
In the first team, Buendía's role expanded slightly, making 10 appearances in La Liga. While most of these were still as a substitute, he began to show flashes of the creative talent that would define his later career. On December 15, 2015, Buendía scored his first professional goal for Getafe in a Copa del Rey match against Rayo Vallecano. This goal was a significant milestone in his development and boosted his confidence.
Throughout the season, Buendía continued to impress with his technical skills, vision, and ability to create chances in tight spaces. His performances caught the attention of Argentina's youth setup, leading to his inclusion in the Argentina U20 squad. This season was crucial in Buendía's development, as he gained more experience at the top level while still having the opportunity to play regularly for Getafe B.The 2016/17 season saw Buendía firmly establish himself in Getafe's first team.
Following the club's relegation to the Segunda División, Buendía had more opportunities to showcase his talents. He made 23 appearances in the league, contributing significantly to Getafe's promotion campaign. Buendía's performances in the Segunda División demonstrated his ability to influence games at a higher level. He scored 6 goals and provided several assists, showcasing his growing importance to the team.
His creativity and vision became key assets for Getafe as they fought for promotion. Buendía's ability to play in multiple attacking positions made him a versatile option for the manager. This season was crucial in Buendía's development, as he gained experience playing regularly in a competitive league. His performances attracted attention from other clubs, setting the stage for his future move to England.
The experience gained in helping Getafe achieve promotion was invaluable, teaching Buendía how to perform under pressure and in important matches. This season marked Buendía's transition from a promising youngster to a key player capable of making a significant impact at the professional level.Emiliano Buendía's 2017/18 season with Cultural Leonesa was a significant turning point in his career. On loan from Getafe, Buendía made 42 appearances for Cultural Leonesa in the Segunda División, Spain's second tier.
He started 36 of these matches and came on as a substitute in 6, demonstrating his importance to the team.During this season, Buendía showcased his attacking prowess, scoring 7 goals and providing numerous assists. His performances were crucial in Cultural Leonesa's campaign, as the team fought to maintain their position in the Segunda División. Buendía's creativity and vision were on full display, as he became a key playmaker for the team.
Under manager Rubén de la Barrera, known for emphasizing possession-based football and positional attack, Buendía thrived. He excelled in three key areas that would come to define his playing style: assists, key passes, and dribbling. This season allowed Buendía to play regularly and develop his skills in a competitive environment.His impressive performances at Cultural Leonesa caught the attention of several clubs, setting the stage for his move to England.
Buendía's debut season with Norwich City in the Championship was a resounding success. He signed a four-year deal on June 8, 2018, and quickly became an integral part of Daniel Farke's team. Buendía scored his first goal for Norwich in a 1-0 win over Brentford on October 27, 2018. Throughout the season, he played a crucial role in Norwich's promotion campaign, showcasing his creativity and vision in the attacking midfield role.
Buendía made 38 appearances in the Championship, scoring 8 goals and providing 12 assists. His performances were instrumental in Norwich winning the Championship title and securing promotion to the Premier League. Fans recognized his impact by voting him third in the club's Player of the Season awards. Buendía's ability to create chances, his technical skills, and his work rate made him a fan favorite at Carrow Road.
His successful adaptation to English football and the Championship demonstrated his potential to perform at higher levels. The season ended with Buendía being regarded as one of the best playmakers in the Championship and a key figure in Norwich's return to the top flight.Buendía's first season in the Premier League with Norwich City showcased his ability to compete at the highest level of English football. He signed a new five-year contract on July 8, 2019, demonstrating the club's faith in his potential.
Despite Norwich's struggles as a team, Buendía's individual performances were often impressive. He created 29 chances for his teammates in December 2019 alone, the most by any player in a single month in the Premier League since records began in 2003-04. This statistic highlighted his exceptional creative abilities. Buendía made 36 appearances in the Premier League, providing 7 assists.
However, he struggled to find the net himself, not scoring his first Premier League goal until July 7, 2020, in a 2-1 defeat to Watford. Despite Buendía's efforts, Norwich were relegated back to the Championship after finishing bottom of the league. The season was a learning experience for Buendía, adapting to the higher pace and quality of the Premier League while showcasing his potential to compete at this level.Buendía's 2020/21 season in the Championship with Norwich City was nothing short of spectacular.
He played a pivotal role in Norwich's immediate return to the Premier League, demonstrating his class and consistency throughout the campaign. Buendía made 39 appearances in the Championship, scoring 15 goals and providing an impressive 16 assists. His performances were crucial in Norwich securing automatic promotion and winning the Championship title. A standout performance came on April 6, 2021, when he scored once and provided three assists in a 7-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
Buendía's exceptional season was recognized with several accolades. He won the EFL Championship Player of the Season award on April 29, 2021, a testament to his dominant performances. Additionally, he was named Norwich City's Player of the Season, becoming only the fourth player from outside the British Isles to win this award. His performances attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, setting the stage for his record-breaking transfer to Aston Villa in the following summer.
This season cemented Buendía's status as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in English football.Buendía's first season at Aston Villa following his club-record transfer was one of adaptation. He made his debut on August 14, 2021, in a 3-2 away loss to Watford. His first goal for Villa came on August 28, 2021, in a 1-1 draw against Brentford.
Throughout the season, Buendía made 37 appearances across all competitions, scoring 4 goals and providing 6 assists. He started 24 matches and came on as a substitute 13 times, demonstrating his importance to the team but also the need to adapt to the Premier League's intensity. Buendía played under two managers during this season, starting with Dean Smith and then Steven Gerrard after Smith's dismissal in November. The change in management required Buendía to adjust to different tactical approaches.
While his performances showed flashes of the brilliance he displayed at Norwich, consistency was sometimes an issue as he settled into his new surroundings. Despite this, Buendía's technical skills and creativity were evident, and he played a role in helping Villa secure a 14th-place finish in the Premier League.Buendía's second season at Aston Villa saw him become more established in the team. He made 41 appearances across all competitions, starting 27 matches and coming off the bench 14 times.
Buendía scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists during this campaign. The season was marked by another managerial change, with Unai Emery replacing Steven Gerrard in October 2022. Under Emery, Buendía's role in the team evolved, with the new manager often deploying him in a more central position. This change allowed Buendía to showcase his creativity and vision more consistently.
His performances improved as the season progressed, with some standout displays in the latter half of the campaign. Buendía's work rate and pressing ability also became more prominent features of his game, aligning with Emery's tactical approach. The team's overall performance improved significantly under Emery, with Villa securing a 7th place finish and qualification for the Europa Conference League. Buendía's contributions were crucial in this achievement, as he adapted well to Emery's system and played a key role in Villa's attacking play.
The 2023/24 season was unfortunately a write-off for Emiliano Buendía due to a severe injury. On August 9, 2023, just before the start of the Premier League season, Buendía suffered a "significant knee injury" during training. This injury was later confirmed to be an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, requiring surgery and ruling him out for the entire 2023/24 season. This was a significant blow for both Buendía and Aston Villa, as he was expected to play a crucial role in the team's Premier League and Europa Conference League campaigns.
Buendía spent the season focusing on his rehabilitation, working to regain fitness and prepare for his return to football. Despite not playing any competitive matches, he remained an important figure at the club, supporting his teammates off the field. Buendía's absence was felt in Villa's attacking play, highlighting his importance to the team. After nine months of recovery, Buendía returned to training in May 2024, with his comeback to competitive football scheduled for the following season.
National team
Buendía's youth international career reflects his dual heritage and the interest he garnered from both Spain and Argentina. On September 16, 2014, Buendía was called up to the Spain under-19 team, recognizing his potential and the progress he had made in Spanish football. This call-up was a testament to his performances at Getafe and the impression he had made on Spanish football authorities.However, Buendía's connection to his native Argentina remained strong.
On April 29, 2015, he received a call-up to the Argentina under-20 squad for the 2015 FIFA U20 World Cup. This presented Buendía with a significant decision regarding his international future. He chose to join the Argentina U20 training camp on May 5, 2015, aligning himself with the country of his birth.This period of Buendía's career was crucial in shaping his international allegiance and providing him with experience at youth international level. While he didn't feature prominently in the U20 World Cup, the exposure to international football and the opportunity to represent Argentina at youth level were important steps in his development as a player.Emiliano Buendía's senior international career with Argentina began relatively late, considering his club performances.
Despite his impressive displays in England with Norwich City and later Aston Villa, Buendía had to wait until May 2021 for his first call-up to the Argentina senior squad. This call-up came as recognition of his consistent performances in the Premier League and his key role in Norwich City's promotion campaign.Buendía's senior international debut came on February 1, 2022, in a 1-0 home victory over Colombia in a World Cup qualifier. He came on as a substitute, marking his first appearance for the full Argentina national team.
This debut was a significant milestone in Buendía's career, representing the culmination of his development from a promising youth player to a full international.Despite his talent and club form, Buendía has faced stiff competition for places in the Argentina squad. The national team boasts a wealth of attacking talent, including players like Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, and Paulo Dybala, making it challenging for Buendía to establish himself as a regular starter.As of 2024, Buendía's international career remains in its early stages, with limited appearances for Argentina
Player’s style
Emiliano Buendía's style of play is characterized by his creativity, technical skill, and versatility in attacking positions. Primarily deployed as an attacking midfielder or winger, Buendía possesses excellent vision and passing ability, making him a key playmaker for his team. His close ball control and dribbling skills allow him to navigate tight spaces effectively, often drawing defenders and creating opportunities for teammates.Buendía is known for his work rate and pressing ability, contributing defensively as well as offensively.
His tactical intelligence enables him to find pockets of space between the lines, making him difficult for opponents to mark. Additionally, Buendía has a keen eye for goal, capable of scoring from various positions and distances. His set-piece delivery is another notable aspect of his game, providing a threat from corners and free-kicks.