Brighton vs Aston Villa: Predicted starting 11 for first Premier League game of the season
Aston Villa’s first Premier League game of the 2026/27 season is just days away as they gear up for a road trip to the South Coast to face Brighton & Hove Albion.
Following a turbulent summer at Villa Park, several key characters have left the club since the end of the last campaign, with the future of other players still uncertain.
That, combined with some unfortunate injuries, could mean Villa’s starting 11 against Brighton looks almost unrecognisable from the one that defeated SC Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League final back in May.
Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans, two of Villa’s goalscorers that night in Istanbul, left for Chelsea and Manchester United respectively, while Lucas Digne returned to his homeland, signing for PSG.
Villa pivoted, acquiring Johan Manzambi from the aforementioned Freiburg for an initial £51.5m deal, João Gomes from Midlands rivals Wolves for an initial £34m and Matteo Ruggeri from Atlético Madrid for an initial fee believed to be around £17m.
Manzambi is yet to even train with his new side though, as he nurses a knee injury. An exact timeline for his return is uncertain, with the club reportedly hoping it will be sooner, rather than later.
Gomes picked up an injury in the UEFA Super Cup defeat to PSG and is expected to be out for two to four weeks. Amadou Onana will be out long-term with an ACL injury suffered at the World Cup.
That means it will probably be Boubacar Kamara, who has returned from an injury of his own, alongside either Ross Barkley or Lamare Bogarde in central midfield this weekend.
Ruggeri is unlikely to start having only signed this week, with Ian Maatsen having settled in as the starter throughout the preseason.
Alejandro Garnacho, who arrived on loan with an option to buy from Chelsea, has missed time during preseason in concussion protocol after taking a blow to the face. 19-year-old George Hemmings is therefore more likely to start the season opener, having impressed this summer.
John McGinn also had an injury scare in preseason but played in the Super Cup and should be fine for Sunday.
Ezri Konsa is expected to be the next player out of the exit door, as he is set to undergo a medical ahead of a £51m move to Arsenal on Thursday. In his absence, Victor Lindelöf is likely to deputise at centre-back alongside Pau Torres.
Emiliano Martínez’s future has been the topic of speculation throughout the transfer window, with Juventus pursuing the goalkeeper before eventually pulling out of talks.
However, Villa have already moved on, signing Zion Suzuki from Parma earlier this week in a deal worth up to £30m. Whether he is ready to start on Sunday or if it will come too soon, remains to be seen.
The latest subject of transfer discourse is Ollie Watkins, who has interest from Saudi Arabia, with Villa insisting they want to keep their star striker.
Watkins has returned to training at Villa ahead of the trip to Brighton, and with Brian Madjo expected to be out until September with an injury of his own, and Tammy Abraham appearing to pick up a knock in their final preseason game, Villa may have no choice but to start Watkins.
Aston Villa predicted starting 11 vs Brighton: Marco Bizot, Matty Cash, Victor Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Ian Maatsen, Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley, John McGinn, Emiliano Buendía, George Hemmings, Ollie Watkins.
