Aston Villa's £51m summer recruit was named among the substitutes for the club's fixture on 12 September, according to team news published by BirminghamWorld and the Express & Star. The player did not feature in the starting line-up as Unai Emery selected his XI away from home.
Both local outlets reported that Villa went into the match searching for their first victory of the Premier League season. The decision to begin the expensive addition on the bench suggests the coaching staff opted for caution with the new arrival rather than handing them an immediate starting role.
The summer transfer window closed on 1 September, meaning the deal had already been finalised before the weekend squad announcement. With business concluded until January 2027, attention now turns to how quickly the signing can force their way into Emery's preferred line-up once fully integrated.
