Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Fri 3 April 2026 7:40, UK

Aston Villa wonderkid Alysson could be set for his big first-team opportunity.

Villa signed the forward from Brazilian club Gremio in January, sealing a deal worth an initial £8.7million with a further £1.8m in performance-related add-ons.

The talented 19-year-old scored one goal and registered two assists in his 41 senior appearances for his previous club and arrived in B6 with a glowing reputation.

However, his first campaign at Villa Park has not gone to plan, with injuries restricting his minutes under Unai Emery, while the head coach does not yet appear convinced by him.

Alysson’s Villa future is already in doubt, but a turn of events may allow him to shine.

Alysson can profit from Jadon Sancho injury

The youngster has made just three Premier League appearances so far this season, playing a total of 47 minutes before sustaining a muscle problem ahead of the international break.

His last cameo came against Chelsea in a 4-1 defeat back on March 4, but he showed more than enough during his brief outing to leave Villa supporters wanting more.

They could finally get their wish after The Athletic revealed that Jadon Sancho could miss around three weeks after picking up a shoulder issue during a friendly against Elche.

A precise return date has not been set, with Villa’s medical staff to closely monitor the on-loan ace, but Alysson may well secretly be hoping for a run in the team before mid-May.

Sancho will almost certainly miss both Europa League quarter-final legs against Bologna and the trip to Nottingham Forest on April 12, opening the door for his team-mate.

While Alysson was primarily recruited for the future, there is a reason Emery chose to immediately draft him into his first-team squad. Now, he must make an immediate impact.

How has Alysson performed for Aston Villa?

As demonstrated in the Sofascore graphic below, Alysson made a good first impression on his top-flight debut against Brighton on February 1.

Judging by his early displays, there may be plenty more to come.

Across his three appearances to date, he averaged 0.3 total shots, 4.7 accurate passes, with an 82 per cent success rate, and 0.7 dribbles per 90 – with a 100 per cent hit rate.

He also came out on top in 100 per cent of his duels, suggesting he can balance brains and brawn. Villa may be able to rely on this as they close in on the Champions League.