Aston Villa's Europa League Squad Selection Challenge Following Winter Window
Aston Villa are poised to finalise their winter transfer business as the deadline approaches, with attention now turning to the crucial task of assembling their squad for the Europa League knockout stages. The Premier League club has welcomed several new faces during the January window, but UEFA regulations impose strict limits on how many can be added to their European roster.
January Arrivals and Their Immediate Impact
The transfer window officially closes for Premier League clubs at 7pm this evening, although manager Unai Emery does not anticipate further significant activity today. Villa have already secured the services of multiple players, each bringing distinct qualities to the squad. Leon Bailey has returned from his loan spell at AS Roma, while Douglas Luiz arrived on loan from Juventus to cover for the injured Youri Tielemans, who is sidelined for approximately two months. Villa hold an option to make Luiz's move permanent for £21.6 million.
In a notable homecoming, Tammy Abraham rejoined the club from Besiktas in an £18 million deal. Both Abraham and Luiz made their second debuts for Villa during Sunday's defeat to Brentford, signalling their readiness for first-team action. Additionally, the club secured young talent Brian Madjo from FC Metz, though the 17-year-old is expected to develop through training at Bodymoor Heath rather than feature prominently in the senior side.
Alysson, a young winger signed from Grêmio, was Villa's first acquisition of the January window. However, injury has delayed his debut, leaving his immediate involvement uncertain. These arrivals present Emery with both opportunities and selection headaches as he prepares for European competition.
UEFA Registration Rules and Squad Constraints
UEFA regulations permit clubs to register a maximum of three new eligible players for the knockout phase after the league stage concludes. This registration must be completed by 5 February 2026 at 24:00 CET. The rules mirror those from previous seasons, maintaining consistency in squad management protocols.
Villa's 25-man List A squad must include four club-trained players and four association-trained individuals, leaving 17 places available for players without restrictive criteria. Currently, Lamare Bogarde stands as the only first-team squad member who could be classified as club-trained, though he may alternatively be listed in the B squad. This situation effectively creates 21 available spots for Emery to allocate to first-team players, subject to additional stipulations such as mandatory goalkeeper inclusions.
Each team must include at least two goalkeepers in List A and a minimum of three when combining Lists A and B. Villa previously named 21 players in their List A squad for the league phase due to shortages in club-trained personnel and are likely to adopt a similar approach for the knockout rounds.
Injury Setbacks and Selection Implications
Ross Barkley was the sole player omitted from the league phase squad initially, though he was later called up following Tyrone Mings' injury before being dropped again. UEFA allowed one change to List A squads before matchday six of the Europa League league phase, provided the replaced player was injured for at least 60 days from the injury date. However, this provision does not appear applicable to the knockout stages, which could disadvantage Villa given Boubacar Kamara's season-ending absence.
If this interpretation holds, Kamara would probably be one of three players removed from Villa's List A squad, alongside Donyell Malen and Evann Guessand, who both departed during the winter window. This would create space for Tammy Abraham and Douglas Luiz to enter the squad, with Leon Bailey anticipated as the third addition, especially considering Alysson's lack of match fitness.
Harvey Elliott's Contractual Situation
Harvey Elliott's status remains a key discussion point, as Villa have yet to reach an agreement with Liverpool to remove the obligation-to-buy clause triggered after ten appearances. The midfielder has already featured seven times for Villa, meaning he could only participate in two more matches if the clause remains unaltered. This contractual nuance adds another layer of complexity to Emery's selection strategy.
Potential Knockout Stage Squad Composition
Based on current circumstances, Villa's List A squad for the Europa League knockout rounds might resemble the following configuration:
- Goalkeepers: Emi Martínez, Marco Bizot
- Defenders: Matty Cash, Andrés García, Ezri Konsa, Victor Lindelöf, Tyrone Mings, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne, Ian Maatsen
- Midfielders: Douglas Luiz, Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans, John McGinn
- Attackers: Ollie Watkins, Tammy Abraham, Leon Bailey, Emi Buendía, Morgan Rogers, Jadon Sancho, Harvey Elliott
As the registration deadline looms, Unai Emery and his coaching staff must carefully balance squad depth, player eligibility, and tactical requirements to optimise Villa's chances in the Europa League knockout phase. The decisions made in the coming days could significantly influence the club's European campaign trajectory.
