Aston Villa's recent acquisition, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, has not been included in manager Unai Emery's 25-man squad for the Champions League. The defender's omission comes shortly after he conveyed his eagerness to compete in Europe's premier club competition.
Harwood-Bellis, 24, joined Aston Villa from Southampton on transfer deadline day. The move was intended to bolster Emery's defensive options following the departure of Ezri Konsa. Harwood-Bellis, who is married to Roy Keane's daughter Leah, had expressed his anticipation for the Champions League in a club interview earlier in the week.
"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," Harwood-Bellis stated in a video posted to X on Tuesday. "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."
He is one of two new signings, along with Modou Keba Cisse, not named in the Champions League group stage squad. Other new players selected include Zion Suzuki, Matteo Ruggeri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Leon Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi, Nicolas Jackson, Alejandro Garnacho, and Ibrahim Mbaye.
Aston Villa also did not include teenage forward Brian Madjo, who scored in the team's Super Cup victory over Paris Saint-Germain last month. Harwood-Bellis is currently ineligible for Villa's league-phase campaign, which is set to begin against Club Brugge. However, he could potentially be added to the squad for the knockout stages if Aston Villa advances in the competition. Clubs are permitted to register up to three additional players for the knockout rounds.