Aston Villa smash club-record to sign Everton star Amadou Onana who was subject to Arsenal query at Euro 2024
07/22/2024 10:36 AM
Aston Villa have announced the club-record signing of midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton.
The 22-year-old impressed for the Toffees after arriving from Lille in a £33million deal in 2022.
And now the Villans have swooped to land the Belgian international in a transfer worth £50m, despite interest from Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
That amount eclipses the £43m they paid to Bayer Leverkusen for Moussa Diaby last ummer.
It was a move which may have indirectly led to one of the most astonishing seasons in club football for the German giants, who landed a league and cup double.
Unai Emery’s Villa side were in need of a replacement for Brazil star Douglas Luiz, who joined Juventus earlier this summer for £42.4m.
And Onana – subject to an enquiry from Arsenal last month – fits the bill having developed into a talented and versatile central midfielder in his two campaigns at Goodison Park.
Fellow Villan Boubacar Kamara isn’t expected back from injury until the new season has started, increasing the need for a new midfielder.
Onana, who featured four times for Belgium at Euro 2024 where he started in the quarter-final defeat to France, was forced to answer questions on his future at the tournament.
Queried directly about interest from the Gunners, he responded: “Any comment? I’m here to play the Euros, mate.
“I don’t really know about it. I’m here to focus 100 per cent on the Euros. That’s it.”
Aston Villa have been extremely active in the transfer market as they look to balance their books and prepare for their Champions League campaign.
Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley are two other midfield acquisitions for the Villans, arriving from Juventus and Luton, respectively.
They have also landed Samuel Iling-Junior, Cameron Archer, Lewis Dobbin and Ian Maatsen.
And they have also re-signed Jaden Philogene from Hull – less than 12 months after he departed Villa Park.
Meanwhile Villa have sold youngsters Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam.
