Shockwaves at Villa Park: Evann Guessand Handed Season-Long Suspension After Heated Altercation with Coach
In what has turned out to be one of the most unexpected and controversial moments of the summer transfer window, Aston Villa’s newly signed striker Evann Guessand has been suspended for the entire 2025/26 season—just days after his arrival from OGC Nice for a hefty €35 million fee.
The 24-year-old Ivorian forward, who was touted as one of the key attacking reinforcements for Unai Emery’s side, now finds himself at the center of an internal disciplinary storm after a verbal altercation with the head coach reportedly spiraled out of control during a closed-door training session on Monday.
According to sources close to the club, tensions flared when Guessand allegedly reacted with visible frustration after being instructed to play out wide during a tactical drill—despite being recruited primarily as a central striker. What followed, insiders claim, was a “brutal and disrespectful exchange” with Emery, in which the player openly challenged the coach’s authority, allegedly using inflammatory language and questioning his vision and managerial methods.
The incident shocked coaching staff and senior players alike, some of whom were said to have attempted to intervene and defuse the situation. However, the damage had already been done. By Tuesday morning, Aston Villa had released an internal statement confirming that Guessand would not be included in any first-team activities for the duration of the 2025/26 season.
Aston Villa’s official spokesperson released a brief but firm statement: Aston Villa Football Club can confirm that Evann Guessand has been suspended from all first-team duties with immediate effect. The club maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward behavior that undermines team unity, staff respect, and the values we uphold. Further comments will not be made at this time.”
The reaction from fans has been one of disbelief and disappointment. Many supporters had high hopes for Guessand, who was seen as a rising star capable of making a significant impact in the Premier League. His powerful physique, pace, and goal-scoring record in Ligue 1 had generated excitement around his arrival. But all that has now been eclipsed by a disciplinary scandal that could mark a major setback in his career.
Football pundits have weighed in heavily on the matter. Former Villa player Gabby Agbonlahor commented during a talkSPORT segment:
This kind of behavior is totally unacceptable. You’ve just joined a club with high ambitions in Europe, and within a week, you’re making headlines for the wrong reasons. It’s immature, and sadly, it might take him a long time to recover from this.”
This development also raises pressing questions about Aston Villa’s recruitment process. Did the club overlook possible temperament concerns during their evaluation of Guessand? Or was this simply a rare outburst from a frustrated player adjusting to a new environment? Either way, the consequences have been severe—and swift.
Guessand himself has yet to publicly respond to the situation. His social media accounts have remained silent since the suspension was announced, fueling further speculation about his emotional state and next move. It remains unclear whether the club will seek to terminate his contract, loan him out, or retain him on the bench as a non-playing member of the squad. With European competitions and a tough domestic campaign ahead, Villa will now need to turn their attention toward reinforcing their attacking options once again—perhaps even dipping back into the market to replace a player who was never expected to miss a single game, let alone a whole season. For Guessand, the road to redemption at Villa Park now looks
long, uncertain, and uphill.