Villa gamble on £60m Manzambi as Hull clash looms

By TOM COLLOMOSSE, FOOTBALL, 3 September 2026 – Aston Villa hope the arrival of 20‑year‑old Johan Manzambi can plug the void left by a summer exodus, but the club‑record £60 million signing from Freiburg is still recovering from a knee injury and his participation in Saturday’s trip to Hull remains uncertain.

Rebuilding after a summer of departures

Villa have been forced to rebuild after a summer that saw the departure of several key figures who had lifted the Europa League and secured Champions League qualification the previous term. Eleven new signings have arrived, including the club‑record acquisition of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg. Departures this window comprised Morgan Rogers, who moved to Chelsea for a record £117 million, Emi Martinez also joining Stamford Bridge, and the exits of Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa.

Manzambi’s recovery and possible debut

Manzambi arrived in July with a pre‑existing knee injury, a condition that has kept him from making his debut despite the £60 million fee. Yet Sport understands he took part in Thursday’s session, but the club has not indicated whether he will be risked for Saturday’s trip to Hull. Emery cautioned, “We must be careful. He had an injury and we want his comeback to be clear and strong, with no risk,” adding that the player is now working individually and starting to train collectively with the group.

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Villa sit on the back foot after consecutive defeats to Brighton and Arsenal, the latter a 1‑0 home loss on August 31, leaving them desperate for their first points of the season. A positive contribution from Manzambi could provide the spark needed to reverse the slump.

If Emery deems the risk acceptable, Manzambi could be included in the matchday squad for Hull, but medical clearance remains the final hurdle. The club will monitor his progress throughout the week before making a final decision.