Johan Manzambi will not be ready to play against Brighton this weekend, though Unai Emery has expressed satisfaction with the Aston Villa midfielder’s recovery from a knee problem.
The Swiss national team player sustained the injury during the World Cup and consulted a specialist for his knee after moving to Villa.
Manzambi arrived at Villa Park in a deal worth £52 million, becoming the club’s most expensive acquisition and taking the place of Morgan Rogers, who departed for Chelsea in a £117 million transfer – a record for any British player.
Before Villa’s Premier League match against Brighton, Emery offered an update on the 20-year-old’s condition.
The Spanish manager stated that Manzambi arrived with an existing injury and is advancing well in his rehabilitation, with the player now training on the pitch, which represents a positive development.
When asked whether Manzambi would be available soon, Emery made clear he would not feature on Sunday.
During the World Cup, Manzambi found the net three times in four matches, though he was absent for Switzerland’s knockout victories over Colombia and Argentina in the round of 16 and quarter-final stages due to the injury.
After breaking into Freiburg’s senior side during the 2024/25 campaign, Manzambi emerged as one of the German league’s most promising young talents the following season.
He contributed five goals and five assists across 27 top-flight appearances, while appearing in all 15 of Freiburg’s Europa League fixtures as they progressed to the final.