Aston Villa have signed midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton in a £50m deal.
The 22-year-old played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign and now has the opportunity to represent Villa in the new season’s Champions League.
Onana joined Everton from Lille for £33m in 2022 and made 72 appearances for the Toffees, scoring four goals.
He was linked with a move to Arsenal in 2023, and a host of top clubs were reportedly keen this summer.
Villa boss Unai Emery had been in the market for a new defensive midfielder after the club sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42.35m in June.
“I’ll be playing in the Champions League again and that’s very exciting,” said Onana.
“We also have a manager that’s one of the best in the business and I think he can take my game to the next level.”
Onana added that Villa midfielder and Belgium team-mate Youri Tielemans helped convince him to join the Midlands club.
“Youri played a big part in me being here because he told me lots of good stuff about the club,” said Onana.
The arrival of Onana has taken Villa’s summer spending to about £140m.
Villa have also spent £35m on signing Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, £18.6m on the double signing of Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus, £18m on Jaden Philogene’s return from Hull, £5m on Ross Barkley’s move from Luton and £9m on Lewis Dobbin’s transfer from Everton.
Credit: bbc.com
