Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez omitted from Aston Villa squad for Brighton Premier League opener
Aston Villa travelled to the American Express Stadium on Sunday, August 23 for their Matchday 1 Premier League fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, but striker Ollie Watkins and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were not included in the matchday squad.
Unai Emery named a starting XI and bench that featured several positional adjustments to cover the absences: Emiliano Buendia was used as the striker, young George Hemmings started on the left wing, captain John McGinn occupied the right flank and Ross Barkley played in the No. 10 role. Joao Gomes and Boubacar Kamare formed the two-man midfield, while Victor Lindelof and Pau Torres paired in central defence with Ian Maatsen and Matty Cash at full-back. Marco Bizot started in goal for Aston Villa as Emery sought a winning start to the 2026-27 league campaign.
Watkins’ omission was linked to transfer activity over the summer; the striker has been strongly connected with a move away from Aston Villa and was initially a target for Manchester United and Arsenal before reports suggested a likely destination in the Saudi Pro League. Al Hilal has been credited with interest, and Emery confirmed the club had received offers for Watkins. As a result, Ollie Watkins was not in the matchday squad for the Brighton game.
Emery addressed Watkins’ situation directly in the pre-match press conference, saying: “We have an issue with him, it’s clear. He is another player, we have had offers for him.” He added: “He is our player, I don’t want to sell him. It can change because if it is a good option for him, good option for the club and I can replace him in the squad.”
Emiliano Martinez’s absence was explained as a desire on the player’s part to pursue a new challenge; Emery said Martinez had made that intent clear to the club and that a proposed move to Juventus nearly completed but ultimately fell through. “He (Martinez) transmitted to us the possibility to have another challenge in his career,” Emery said. “…This year again, he transmitted (to) us the possibility to have another challenge, and we decided to sign (Zion) Suzuki because I think he’s a fantastic goalkeeper in case Martinez is leaving.”
Villa’s selection reflected those ongoing transfer situations, with Buendia leading the line and Marco Bizot deputising in goal in Martinez’s absence. The changes affected several regular roles across the team and required Emery to reconfigure his matchday personnel ahead of the season opener against Brighton.
Both Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez were left out of Aston Villa’s Brighton matchday squad because of transfer-related developments; until those futures are resolved, Martinez in particular appears likely to remain absent from selection while the club integrates cover such as Zion Suzuki into its plans.
