Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nice striker Evann Guessand for £26m plus £4.3m in add-ons.
The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored 12 goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France’s Ligue 1.
The France-born attacker boosts Unai Emery’s striking options at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins the only recognised centre forward in the Spaniard’s squad.
Emery was keen to reinforce his attack following the departures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio following the expiry of their loan spells at the end of last season.
“When I heard the club wanted me I didn’t think twice,” Guessand said.
“I’m ready to give my all. Every game, every kick, every minute.”
Guessand’s arrival is Villa’s second first-team signing of the summer, following the acquisition of goalkeeper Marco Bizot from French club Brest.
Villa’s summer transfer window has been impacted by the club’s need to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial rules.
The club were fined by Uefa earlier this summer for breaching the European governing body’s squad cost ratio rules.
Villa were fined an initial £9.5m, with a further £12.9m fine conditional on compliance over a three-year period.
[BBC]