Aston Villa have secured the signing of midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton in a £50m transfer deal.
The 22-year-old Belgian international played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign and will now join Villa for the upcoming Champions League season.
Onana was acquired by 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 several top clubs expressed interest in him this summer.
Villa manager Unai Emery sought a new defensive midfielder following the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42.35m in June. Onana expressed excitement about playing in the Champions League again and praised Emery, stating, “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 also mentioned that Villa midfielder and Belgium team-mate Youri Tielemans played a significant role in his decision to join Villa. “Youri played a big part in me being here because he told me lots of good stuff about the club,” Onana said.
Aston Villa, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, are bolstering their squad for the Champions League. They last competed in Europe’s top club competition in the 1982-83 season, following their European Cup victory.
The addition of Onana brings Villa’s summer spending to approximately £140m. Other signings include Ian Maatsen from Chelsea for £35m, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus for £18.6m, Jaden Philogene’s return from Hull for £18m, Ross Barkley from Luton for £5m, and Lewis Dobbin from Everton for £9m.
Villa will start their Premier League campaign against West Ham on Saturday, 17 August.
