Aston Villa Complete £50m Transfer for Everton's Amadou Onana

Aston Villa have finalized a £50 million deal to acquire midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton. The 22-year-old Belgian, who featured in every match of Belgium's Euro 2024 campaign, will now join Villa as they prepare for the new season's Champions League.

Onana, who joined Everton from Lille for £33 million in 2022, made 72 appearances for the Toffees, scoring four goals. Despite previous links to Arsenal in 2023 and interest from other top clubs this summer, Onana will now be part of Villa's squad.

Villa's manager Unai Emery was actively seeking a new defensive midfielder following the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42.35 million in June. Onana expressed enthusiasm about playing in the Champions League again and working with Emery, stating, “I'll be playing in the Champions League again and that's very exciting. 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 Belgian teammate Youri Tielemans played a significant role in his decision to join the club, saying, “Youri played a big part in me being here because he told me lots of good stuff about the club.”

Aston Villa, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, are bolstering their squad for their return to Champions League competition, having not participated in the tournament since the 1982-83 season, which followed their European Cup win.

The addition of Onana brings Villa's summer spending to approximately £140 million. Their transfers include £35 million for Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, £18.6 million for Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus, £18 million for Jaden Philogene's return from Hull, £5 million for Ross Barkley from Luton, and £9 million for Lewis Dobbin from Everton.

Villa will kick off their Premier League campaign with an away match against West Ham on Saturday, 17 August.