Taylor Harwood-Bellis has been left out of Aston Villa's squad for the Champions League phase, just weeks after Unai Emery signed him from Southampton for a reported £30million.
The defender arrived towards the end of August but does not appear on Villa's 25-man list for the competition, even though the club have named only three other orthodox centre-backs. Villa say the decision has nothing to do with their UEFA settlement agreement, which restricts the club to spending no more than they earn on transfers and wages.
'It's a hard decision,' Emery said. The Villa boss also left 17-year-old forward Brian Madjo out of the squad in favour of Tammy Abraham, despite the club having wanted to sell Abraham during the summer. Madjo is currently injured and will miss at least one European fixture regardless.
Explaining the call on Harwood-Bellis, Emery said: '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.'
'Hopefully he will have chance to play in Europe with us, after January maybe but hopefully next year,' Emery added. 'As for Madjo, he is only 17 and will have more chances to play.'
A big-money move and a family wedding
Harwood-Bellis's move to Villa Park capped a busy summer for the England Under-21 international, who also married Leah Keane, daughter of former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane, earlier this year.
Two days before he was left out of the squad, Harwood-Bellis had spoken of his excitement at joining a club competing in the Champions League. In his first interview with the club, posted to X on Tuesday, he said: '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,' he said. '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. So yeah, I know that the club can relish in Europe and hopefully go a step further.'
What comes next for Villa in Europe
Harwood-Bellis is ineligible for Villa's league-phase campaign regardless of squad selection, since he was registered too late in the window. Villa begin that campaign away to Club Brugge next Tuesday.
He could still be added to the squad for the knockout stages if Emery's side progress, since clubs that qualify for that stage are permitted to register up to three additional players.
Villa's Champions League squad also includes goalkeepers Zion Suzuki, Marco Bizot and Alysson, defenders Matteo Ruggeri, Victor Lindelof, Pau Torres, Matty Cash, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ian Maatsen and Tyrone Mings, and midfielders and forwards Boubacar Kamara, Joao Gomes, Leon Goretzka, John McGinn, Ibrahim Mbaye, Emi Buendia, Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho, Ross Barkley, Tammy Abraham, James Wright and Lamare Bogarde.
