Aston Villa’s new £25million signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been not noted of Unai Emery’s Champions League squad, simply two days after expressing his ‘pleasure’ on the prospect of enjoying in Europe’s elite competitors.
The 24-year-old centre-half joined Villa from Southampton on switch deadline day, introduced in to strengthen Emery’s defensive choices following Ezri Konsa’s £55m transfer to Premier League champions Arsenal.
Harwood-Bellis, who tied the knot with Roy Keane’s daughter Leah earlier this summer season, admitted he ‘cannot wait’ to play within the Champions League throughout his first interview along with his new membership on Tuesday.
However his Champions League hopes have been dealt a shock blow simply two days later, when Emery left him out of Villa’s 25-man squad for the competitors.
Harwood-Bellis stated in a membership video posted to X on Tuesday: ‘I believe once I knew to start with the membership generally being such a prestigious Premier League membership after which you have got the added bonus of the Champions League is one thing that does not fill me with something however pleasure.
‘I can not wait to get on the market and present that I can hopefully do it on the largest stage. We have seen the success the membership’s had in Europe, successful the Europa League and going to date within the Champions League, giving PSG in all probability their hardest recreation that season was huge.
New signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been not noted of Aston Villa’s Champions League squad
Harwood-Bellis tied the knot with Roy Keane’s daughter Leah this summer season (proposal pictured)
‘So yeah, I do know that the membership can relish in Europe and hopefully go a step additional.’
Harwood-Bellis and Modou Keba Cisse are the one two newly-signed gamers not included within the Champions League group, with Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leon Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho and Ibrahim Mbaye all chosen as a part of Emery’s group.
Aston Villa additionally omitted teenage ahead Brian Madjo, who scored of their Tremendous Cup victory over Paris Saint-Germain final month.
Whereas Harwood-Bellis is ineligible for Villa’s league-phase marketing campaign, which begins away to Membership Brugge subsequent Tuesday, he might nonetheless be added to the squad for the knockout levels if Emery’s facet progress.
Golf equipment who qualify for the knockouts are allowed to register a most of three further gamers.
Aston Villa’s Champions League squad in full: Zion Suzuki, Marco Bizot, Matteo Ruggeri, Victor Lindelof, Pau Torres, Boubacar Kamara, Joao Gomes, Leon Goretzka, John McGinn, Alysson, Ibrahim Mbaye, Emi Buendia, Johan Manzambi, Nciolas Jackson, Matty Money, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ian Maatsen, Alejandro Garnacho, Tyrone Mings, Ross Barkley, Tammy Abraham, James Wright, Lamare Bogarde
