This update, refreshed on 17 September 2026, revisits Aston Villa’s Premier League opener at Brighton & Hove Albion and confirms where things stand on Ollie Watkins’ matchday absence. Unai Emery’s starting XI for the Amex Stadium clash is confirmed below, along with the latest reported context around the striker’s situation.
Latest team news: Watkins omitted for Brighton opener
Aston Villa began their 2026/27 Premier League campaign away at Brighton & Hove Albion, with kick-off at 2pm BST on 23 August 2026 at the Amex Stadium. The headline talking point was the matchday squad itself: Ollie Watkins was left out entirely.
Villa’s leading striker in recent seasons did not feature among the substitutes either. His absence dominated pre-match discussion among supporters, coming as it did alongside reported transfer interest from Saudi Arabia.
For a club opening a new league campaign, the news overshadowed much of the usual build-up. Supporters arriving at the Amex, and those following from home, were left to work out the line-up and the reasoning behind it in real time.
Confirmed Aston Villa line-up to face Brighton
Emery named a starting XI built around a settled defensive base and a reshaped midfield. The confirmed line-up read: Bizot, Cash, Lindelöf, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Gomes, McGinn, Buendía, Hemmings, and Barkley.
With Watkins unavailable for selection, the attacking responsibility fell to Hemmings and Barkley, supported by Buendía in a more advanced role. The shape reflected the squad depth Villa have built up over recent transfer windows, having rebuilt their spine through a series of significant signings.
Bizot’s presence in goal, alongside Cash, Lindelöf, Torres and Maatsen across the back line, gave Emery a defensive unit with genuine experience for a difficult away fixture. Kamara and Gomes anchored midfield, with McGinn adding his usual mix of energy and know-how further forward.
Key squad absentees and João Gomes return
Watkins was not the only notable absence. Emi Martínez, Tammy Abraham, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were all missing from the matchday squad against Brighton.
There was better news in midfield. João Gomes returned to the starting line-up after recovering from a recent calf injury, giving Emery a fit and available option in the middle of the park for the opening fixture. His return adds competition in a Villa midfield that has been reshaped as part of Emery’s squad refresh over the past year.
Taken together, the absences of Martínez, Abraham and Wan-Bissaka alongside Watkins meant Emery had four established first-team names unavailable for the opener. Gomes’ recovery in time to start offered some balance against that list, and his fitness will matter as the early-season fixtures come thick and fast.
Why was Ollie Watkins omitted from the squad?
Watkins was omitted because of ongoing transfer talks between Aston Villa and Al-Hilal, according to Sky Sports. The broadcaster reports that Al-Hilal remain in discussions with Villa over a possible move for the striker, with at least one offer from the Saudi club already rejected.
Villa have not confirmed the details of any bid or the terms under discussion, and no transfer fee has been verified. Supporters are reminded that, beyond the Sky Sports reporting of ongoing talks and a rejected offer, no agreement between the clubs has been confirmed.
That distinction matters. Leaving a player out of a matchday squad entirely, rather than naming him among the substitutes, is often a sign that a move is being treated seriously by all parties. It does not, on its own, confirm that a transfer will go through.
What happens next for Aston Villa and Watkins
As things stand, the reported Al-Hilal talks remain unresolved. Sky Sports’ reporting is the only verified account of the interest in Watkins, and there is no confirmation yet of personal terms, a transfer fee, or a completed deal.
For now, Villa fans should treat Watkins’ situation as ongoing rather than settled. Emery will need to decide whether to plan his attack around Hemmings and Barkley for the medium term or wait to see whether Watkins remains part of his squad once the transfer window activity settles.
Further team news, including any change in his availability for upcoming fixtures, will follow as it is confirmed. Full detail on the original matchday squad announcement can be found in our original team news report.
