Aston Villa’s matchday squad for Hull City vs Aston Villa is confirmed, and the headline news is Ibrahim Mbaye’s involvement. The £47 million deadline day signing is included for the first time since his move, starting on the bench. This update, published on 2 October 2026, brings the squad details in line with Unai Emery’s latest selection.
David Suzuki starts in goal behind a back four of Cash, Lindelöf, Mings and Maatsen. Barkley and Kamara anchor midfield, with Hemmings and McGinn providing width and energy. Buendía and Jackson lead the attack. It is a line-up built for control after a tough start to the season.
Emery Names Starting XI with Suzuki in Goal
Emery’s confirmed eleven reads: Suzuki, Cash, Lindelöf, Mings, Maatsen, Barkley, Kamara, Hemmings, McGinn, Buendía and Jackson. It keeps faith with players who have featured heavily already this term, rather than ringing in wholesale changes.
The bench shows the depth Emery can call on. Bizot and Alysson provide goalkeeping cover, while Ruggeri, Pau Torres and Wan-Bissaka offer defensive options. Garnacho, Abraham, Mbaye and Bogarde give Villa attacking variety to bring on if the game needs it.
Why Mbaye Starts on Bench and Goretzka Misses Hull City vs Aston Villa
Mbaye’s place on the bench, rather than in the starting eleven, is the clearest answer to why he is not yet a first-team regular. He only joined on deadline day for £47 million, so a gradual introduction from the bench fits a player still settling into the squad.
Leon Goretzka does not appear in the squad at all. Taylor Harwood-Bellis, signed from Southampton for £30 million in the summer, is also missing. Harwood-Bellis has been left out of Villa’s Champions League squad as well, a sign his path into Emery’s plans is currently blocked.
João Gomes is suspended for the Hull City fixture. Johan Manzambi remains unavailable too, despite having returned to training with the group under Emery.
What Happens Next for Villa
Villa go into this match needing a response. They opened the season with defeats to Brighton and Arsenal, failing to score or even register a shot on target in either game. That record puts extra weight on the shoulders of this starting eleven.
Emery has shown before that he is willing to reshape a squad quickly when results demand it, as explored in our look at Emery’s squad refresh decisions. How Mbaye, Goretzka and Harwood-Bellis fit into that picture over the coming weeks will shape selection debates well beyond this fixture.
For a broader sense of how Emery tends to approach team selection against mid-table opposition, our predicted starting XI analysis offers useful context. Full detail on the original squad announcement, including the initial reaction to Mbaye’s bench role, is available in our original Villa matchday squad confirmation.
