🇹🇷 𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗕𝗨𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗝𝗨𝗥𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗡𝗢! 🦁 𝗔𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗛𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝟭𝟭 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻-𝗘𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘆! 🏥⚽
By 247sportcity | Wednesday, January 21, 2026
ISTANBUL – Unai Emery’s European credentials face their ultimate test of endurance this Thursday. As Aston Villa touch down in Turkey for a high-stakes Europa League clash with Fenerbahçe, the headlines aren’t about the tactical battle, but the devastating medical bulletin coming out of Bodymoor Heath.1
In what is being described as a “season-defining” setback, pivotal midfielder Boubacar Kamara has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign with a serious knee injury.2 He leads a staggering list of 11 players who will miss the trip to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, leaving Villa’s engine room in a state of emergency.
The Kamara Catastrophe: A Season Over
The most painful news for the Villa faithful arrived via The Athletic, confirming that Boubacar Kamara’s knee injury—sustained during the early stages of the FA Cup win over Tottenham—is as severe as first feared.3
Kamara, who has been the undisputed “glue” of Emery’s midfield since his arrival, will undergo surgery this week. With 26 appearances and a market value of €40 million, his absence creates a vacuum that even a manager of Emery’s tactical depth will struggle to fill.
The Midfield Blackout
Kamara isn’t the only one missing from the center of the park.4 Aston Villa’s “engine room” has effectively been dismantled by the following:
- John McGinn: The skipper is sidelined with a knee issue suffered in the weekend loss to Everton.5
- Amadou Onana: Has yet to feature in 2026 and remains a few weeks away from a return.6
- Ross Barkley: Sidelined since November. Interestingly, a rumored loan move to Sheffield United has reportedly been blocked by Emery following the Kamara news.7
- Alysson: The January arrival from South America is ineligible for the Europa League until the knockout stages.8
This leaves Youri Tielemans and teenage academy graduate George Hemmings as the only recognized central options for a game that could secure Villa’s place in the last 16.
[Table: The ‘Istanbul 11’ – Who is Missing for Villa?]
| Player | Reason | Expected Return |
| Boubacar Kamara | Knee Surgery | Season Over |
| John McGinn | Knee Injury | TBC (Late Feb) |
| Amadou Onana | Muscle Strain | 2 Weeks |
| Ross Barkley | Long-term Injury | 3 Weeks |
| Alysson | Ineligible | Knockout Rounds |
| Jadon Sancho | DOUBT | Late Fitness Test |
| Donyell Malen | DEPARTED | Joined AS Roma |
| Tyrone Mings | Recovery Program | March |
| Pau Torres | Knock | Next Week |
| Matty Cash | Muscle | 1 Week |
| Robin Olsen | Illness | Immediate |
Fenerbahçe’s “Premier League” Revenge Squad
While Villa are limping, Fenerbahçe are lying in wait with a squad packed with familiar faces. The Turkish giants, led by former Villa favorites Marco Asensio and Jhon Durán, will be looking to capitalize on Emery’s depleted ranks.
The hosts boast a “Who’s Who” of former Premier League stars:
- Ederson: The former Man City keeper provides a formidable wall.
- Nélson Semedo: The ex-Wolves skipper anchors the right flank.
- Fred & Edson Álvarez: A powerhouse midfield duo that will look to bully Villa’s weakened center.
- Matteo Guendouzi: Emery’s former Arsenal pupil is in the squad, though currently ineligible for this round.
The Stakes: Avoiding the Play-Off Scramble
Despite the injury chaos, Villa remain in a strong position. Currently 3rd in the Europa League table with 15 points from six games, a victory in Istanbul would guarantee a direct ticket to the Round of 16.9
Failure to win, however, could lead to a “nervy finish” against Red Bull Salzburg next week and the dreaded possibility of a two-legged knockout play-off against a Champions League “drop-out” in February—something a squad this thin simply cannot afford.
Final Verdict: Emery’s Greatest Challenge
Unai Emery is a man who thrives on European pressure, but the loss of 11 senior players—headlined by the “heartbeat” Kamara—is a scenario few could have predicted. If Villa can escape the Şükrü Saracoğlu with a point, it will be hailed as one of the great “siege” results of the Emery era.