The Villans have forced the midfielder to abandon his plans in Germany and return to the club immediately to continue his rehabilitation.

When Aston Villa signed the 31-year-old, they must have known that they would have to wait until after the international break before seeing him fully fit and ready to contribute.

Goretzka is yet to make an appearance for Villa since joining as a free agent, with the midfielder continuing to work on his fitness.

After eight years with Bayern Munich, the Germany international became a free agent during the summer and decided to join up with Unai Emery.

The Spanish head coach has not been able to call upon the midfielder yet, but it appears that he is eager to integrate Goretzka into his side and potentially make adjustments to his tactical approach.

How Aston Villa Put Their Foot Down With Leon Goretzka Decision

Goretzka spoke about his fitness frustrations at Villa earlier in September and had planned to use the international break to continue working on his conditioning.

The Villans clearly want the midfielder to follow through on that commitment after ordering him back from Germany.

Goretzka is a member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation and had been due to vote on which part of the country should host the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.

According to Welt on September 24, the vote was scheduled for Saturday, but Villa recalled Goretzka so that he could continue his rehabilitation programme.

While Goretzka will understandably be disappointed by the decision, the Lions can hardly be criticised for wanting their summer signing available as soon as possible.

Villa have not enjoyed the best start to the season, and the midfielder could potentially help change their fortunes at B6 once the international break comes to an end.

How Unai Emery Could Set Up With Leon Goretzka at Villa Park

During his time at Bayern, Goretzka developed into a physically imposing number eight who could make an impact at both ends of the pitch.

Last season, the midfielder was heavily involved in Bayern’s build-up play, averaging 61.2 touches per game and recording a 91 per cent passing accuracy in the Bundesliga, according to Sofascore.

Emery is likely to value Goretzka’s composure and calmness in possession above all else.

Villa averaged 53.6 per cent possession in the Premier League last season, but that figure has fallen to 46 per cent during the 2026/27 campaign.

It feels as though the Spanish manager may need to adjust his system at Villa Park, with an additional body in midfield potentially required to help the team control matches more effectively.

Joao Gomes and Boubacar Kamara could form a solid partnership at Villa Park, but bringing Goretzka into the starting XI ahead of someone such as Johan Manzambi may represent a necessary sacrifice Emery will have to make.