Credit: Imago

James Barker

Fri 27 March 2026 7:10, UK

Joe Gauci is performing very well on loan with League One Port Vale, which could see him earn a shot at a first-team role with Aston Villa this summer.

Gauci signed for Aston Villa from Adelaide United in February 2024, which marked a record-breaking deal for an Australian A-League player.

The then-23-year-old penned a contract until 2028 at Villa Park, and is now establishing himself as a regular on the international stage for Australia too.

However, now 25, Gauci has still only ever made two competitive first-team appearances for Villa, and spend the second half of last season on loan with Barnsley.

This season’s summer transfer window saw him secure a season-long loan move back to League One with Port Vale, and with just seven games of Aston Villa’s campaign remaining, Villa Park chiefs will have one eye on squad plans for 2026-27.

How is Joe Gauci performing for Port Vale?

Emi Martinez’s long-term future is uncertain at Aston Villa, with reports over the winter that the Argentine international was keen on a move back home.

Therefore, he could well be on his way out of B6 this summer, and if that happens, then Unai Emery will need to look for a new starting goalkeeper.

Now, this isn’t saying that Gauci would be immediately in contention for the number one role in between the sticks for Villa, but his performances for Port Vale should have him in the mix for the number two spot this summer.

As per Sofascore, Gauci has conceded just 1.2 goals per game in League One this season, which is made even more impressive when you factor in that the Valiants are currently sitting bottom of the third tier in 24th.

He’s also recording a 69 per cent save percentage, has only conceded 29 times, has made 65 saves in 25 league appearances and even created one big chance in attack too.

Eight clean sheets from 25 games is also a very respectable return given the aforementioned context of Vale being bottom of League One, and he’s also recovered an average of 10.8 balls per game.

He was also in goal for Port Vale’s memorable FA Cup shock win over Premier League Sunderland on 8 March, where he kept a clean sheet in their 1-0 win.

Gauci could save Aston Villa a lot of money

Gauci is sending a strong message to Aston Villa decision-makers that he’s ready for a larger role at Villa Park, and giving him an opportunity in the first-team makes a lot of sense.

Villa are having to manage their finances carefully, with PSR and UEFA spending restrictions limiting the amount of money they can throw around in the transfer market.

Even if Martinez stays beyond this summer, current number two Marco Bizot is now 35 and not a long-term option, and so getting younger at that position and allowing Gauci to compete for the backup role would be a sensible move.

They obviously saw something in him when purchasing him from Adelaide, and with all the uncertainty in their senior shot-stopping ranks, now is the ideal time to bring him into the first-team fold, and give him his just rewards for an excellent loan spell with Port Vale.