Alejandro Garnacho could be at a crossroads after slow start at Aston Villa
September 22, 2026 09:10
Alejandro Garnacho has made only three substitute appearances for Aston Villa since joining on an initial loan from Chelsea two months ago, totalling 31 minutes of playing time. His longest outing was a 15-minute appearance against Hull, and he has been an unused substitute in Villa's past four matches, including the 3-2 win at Tottenham.
KEY CONTEXT
Garnacho, 22, moved to Chelsea last year for a fee reported as £40m from Manchester United and managed one goal and four assists in 24 Premier League games for the Blues. After that season he was allowed to leave on loan.
At Villa, several summer arrivals and academy players have started ahead of him. Only Joao Gomes, among Villa's 10 new signings, started the opening Premier League game; Zion Suzuki and Nicolas Jackson were the two starters the following match. Academy graduate George Hemmings has earned starts and the manager's trust, while Ibrahim Mbaye — a £47m arrival from Paris St-Germain — made his first start in the 3-1 Carabao Cup victory at Coventry, a match in which Garnacho was left on the bench when Emery made seven changes.
A facial injury in early August hampered Garnacho's pre-season and kept him out of the Super Cup defeat by Paris St-Germain, a factor Unai Emery cited as part of why the winger is "a little bit behind." Emery urged patience and work, saying: "Continue working. Work, work, train, work... He is progressing, but we have players in front of him now. George is playing fantastic. Alysson is also understanding things well... [Ibrahim] Mbaye also responded well. We want a competitive team and players to compete in the style we have. Garnacho is a little bit behind because of some circumstances we had in pre-season. It is time to be patient for the time he needs."
WHY IT MATTERS
Training and match minutes will determine whether Garnacho can displace current starters. The combination of limited pre-season preparation, competition from recent signings and academy performers, and Emery's current selections has left the former Chelsea winger with minimal pitch time early in the campaign — a situation the BBC says could place him at a crossroads.