By TOM COLLOMOSSE, FOOTBALL REPORTER and BEN WILLCOCKS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 08:20 BST, 4 September 2026 | Updated: 14:39 BST, 4 September 2026
Unai Emeryy has left £30million signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis out of Aston Villa’s squad for the Champions League phase.
The defender was signed from Southampton towards the end of August but has not been included in the 25-man squad, even though there are only three other orthodox centre-backs on the list.
Villa say the decision is not related to the UEFA settlement agreement, which means they can spend no more than they earn on transfers and wages.
‘It’s a hard decision,’ said Villa boss Emery, who also left 17-year-old forward Brian Madjo out in favour of Tammy Abraham – even though Villa wanted to sell Abraham this summer. Madjo is currently injured and will miss at least one European fixture.
‘Taylor was the last player to arrive in the window and we can get balance with Lamare Bogarde playing at centre-back, and even Boubacar Kamara can play there.
‘Taylor has signed here for a long time and he will stay here for a long time.
New signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been left out of Aston Villa's Champions League squad
Unai Emery admitted it was a 'hard decision' to omit the £30million signing from Southampton
🗣️ "To come to a club of the stature of Villa is something that I wanted to strive for."Taylor's first words as a Villan – ready to kick-on 👊 pic.twitter.com/ryZzjvLAXS
'Hopefully he will have chance to play in Europe with us, after January maybe but hopefully next year. As for Madjo, he is only 17 and will have more chances to play.’
Harwood-Bellis, who tied the knot with Roy Keane's daughter Leah earlier this summer, admitted he 'can't wait' to play in the Champions League during his first interview with his new club on Tuesday.
The defender said in a club video posted to X on Tuesday: 'I think when I knew first of all the club in general being such a prestigious Premier League club and then you have the added bonus of the Champions League is something that doesn't fill me with anything but excitement.
'I can't wait to get out there and show that I can hopefully do it on the biggest stage. We've seen the success the club's had in Europe, winning the Europa League and going so far in the Champions League, giving PSG probably their hardest game that season was massive.
