Aston Villa have secured the signing of midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton for £50m.
The 22-year-old, who played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign, will now have the chance to represent Villa in the upcoming Champions League season.
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 attracted interest from several top clubs this summer.
Villa manager Unai Emery had been looking for a new defensive midfielder following the sale of 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.
Aston Villa have secured midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton for £50m. The 22-year-old, who played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign, will now join Villa for the upcoming Champions League season.
Onana, who moved from Lille to Everton for £33m in 2022, made 72 appearances for the Toffees, scoring four goals. His transfer follows significant interest from top clubs, including Arsenal.
Villa’s manager, Unai Emery, sought a new defensive midfielder after Douglas Luiz’s departure to Juventus for £42.35m in June. With Villa finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, they are bolstering their squad for their first Champions League appearance since the 1982-83 season.
The club’s summer spending has reached approximately £140m, including £35m for Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, £18.6m for Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus, £18m for Jaden Philogene from Hull, £5m for Ross Barkley from Luton, and £9m for Lewis Dobbin from Everton.
Villa’s Premier League season starts against West Ham on Saturday, 17 August.