Aston Villa made a shocking decision as they confirmed their final squad for the 2026 UEFA Super Cup in Salzburg.
Aston Villa have announced the players who made the cut for their 2026 UEFA Super Cup squad. Surprisingly, Unai Emery has opted to exclude stars who have been in fine form during pre-season to win his first ever title after failing three times in his previous clubs, Sevilla and Villareal.
Based on a post on X account by Aston Villa correspondent and journalist John Townley, Emery has selected four goalkeepers, which is quite unusual, and four midfielders only in the squad. Here are the full names on the list.
“UEFA have confirmed Aston Villa’s squad for the Super Cup.
GK: Martinez, Bizot, Wright, Asemota
DF: Cash, Nedeljkovic, Konsa, Lindelof, Torres, Mings, Maatsen, Bogarde, Cisse
M: Kamara, McGinn, Joao Gomes, Barkley
FW: Watkins, Abraham, Buendia, Garnacho, Guessand, Alysson”
The most notable names missing from the squad are George Hemmings and Brian Madjo. Both have been impressive during pre-season, while the other two youngsters who also impressed, Modou Cisse and Kosta Nedeljkovic, made the cut.
Hemmings and Madjo have been in fine form since the first pre-season game against Walsall. They also featured in the following matches against FC Porto, Real Sociedad, and two friendlies in Southeast Asia.
Hemmings, whose style of play has been compared to Jacob Ramsey’s, scored in the defeat to Real Sociedad. Meanwhile, the 17-year-old Brian Madjo managed to find the back of the net four times. He scored a brace against Walsall and added one goal each in the defeat to La Real and the 3-1 victory over the Indonesia All Stars in Jakarta.
Another notable name who has not been included is their most expensive signing, Johan Manzambi. His absence is more understandable due to a knee injury.
Aston Villa’s A-list squad places have all been used. So, unless there is another sudden injury, Emery’s side will not be able to add new players. Any new players, if needed, can be added at any time until Tuesday at 23:59 CET, just one day before kick-off.
Meanwhile, The Clarets and Blue are still expected to submit their B-list squad. These are players who were born on or after January 1, 2005, and have been with the club for two years without interruption, or for three consecutive years, including one loan spell at a club in the same association since the age of 15.
This regulation completely rules out Madjo from being part of the B-list squad. The young forward only joined Villa in January 2026, meaning he has been at the club for less than a year.
He could have been included in the A-list squad, but unfortunately, Emery still prefers more experienced attacking players, with the likes of Ollie Watkins and Tammy Abraham returning to the team.
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