---
title: "Unai Emery opens door for Taylor Harwood-Bellis Champions League return in January"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/04/taylor-harwood-bellis-champions-league-squad-omission-unai-emery/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "James Chettle"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2026-09-04T20:30:00Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T10:47:11Z"
---

# Unai Emery opens door for Taylor Harwood-Bellis Champions League return in January

**Unai Emery has opened the door for Taylor Harwood-Bellis to enter Aston Villa’s Champions League squad in January after explaining the difficult decision to omit the £30million signing from the league phase.**

Harwood-Bellis was the major surprise when Villa submitted their 23-man List A this week, just days after completing his Deadline Day move from Southampton.

Emery has now revealed that the defender’s late arrival and Villa’s existing cover worked against him, while stressing that the England international remains part of the club’s long-term plans.

> 🚨 Unai Emery says he took decision to omit Taylor Harwood-Bellis from the Champions League squad as felt he felt there was balance at CB – Lamare Bogarde and Boubacar Kamara can play there – but believe he will play in Europe in the future. \
> \
> ✍️ – \[[@J\_Tanswell](https://x.com/J_Tanswell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)\] [#avfc](https://x.com/hashtag/avfc?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [pic.twitter.com/ihsamaRXnM](https://t.co/ihsamaRXnM)
>
> — 𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 (@TotalVilla\_) [September 4, 2026](https://x.com/TotalVilla_/status/2095866863284879391?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

## Unai Emery opens January door for Taylor Harwood-Bellis

Read Aston Villa reported on Friday morning that [Harwood-Bellis had been left out of Villa’s Champions League squad](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/04/aston-villa-leave-30m-signing-out-of-champions-league-squad-in-major-emery-decision/) despite arriving from Southampton for an initial £25m, potentially rising to £30m.

That decision immediately raised questions over why Emery had selected other defensive options ahead of his newest centre-back.

The Villa boss has now provided the answer.

Emery said the decision was based on how Villa expect their squad to look through the eight league-phase matches before January, explaining that Harwood-Bellis was the **last signing to arrive**.

Villa also believe [Lamare Bogarde](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/09/03/lamare-bogarde-aston-villa-contract-emery/) and Boubacar Kamara can provide emergency defensive cover if required.

Emery admitted the call was difficult for both the coaching staff and the affected players, but made clear that Harwood-Bellis’ European opportunities are not necessarily over for the season.

The manager said he hopes the 24-year-old will eventually have the opportunity to play European football for Villa, adding that it could happen **“in January maybe”**.

## Harwood-Bellis decision is about short term, not Villa future

That distinction matters.

Harwood-Bellis was signed after [Ezri Konsa](https://readastonvilla.com/2026/08/27/aston-villa-set-for-ezri-konsa-reunion-after-arsenal-update/) left for Arsenal and is expected to become an important part of Villa’s defence.

The club’s own feature on the defender highlighted his previous Champions League experience with Manchester City, where [Pep Guardiola](https://readmancity.com/2026/08/25/an-unbiased-look-at-pep-guardiolas-management-of-man-city/) gave him a senior European appearance as a teenager.

His exclusion therefore looks increasingly like a registration sacrifice rather than an indication that Emery doubts the signing.

Harwood-Bellis remains available for domestic competition and could make his Aston Villa debut against Hull City on Saturday.

If Villa progress beyond the Champions League league phase, clubs are permitted to make changes to their registered squad before the knockout rounds.

Emery has now made clear that Harwood-Bellis would be firmly in contention.

The defender may have suffered an immediate Champions League setback only days into his Villa career.

But the door has not been closed for long.