Aston Villa have completed the signing of highly-rated midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg in a club-record deal worth just over £50 million.
The Switzerland international becomes Villa’s most expensive signing, surpassing the £50 million the club paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago.
Aston Villa Closing in on Joao Gomes Transfer
Villa are also edging closer to completing the £38 million signing of Joao Gomes from Wolves. The Brazilian midfielder left Wolves’ pre-season training camp in Portugal on Thursday to undergo a medical ahead of finalising the move.
Villa Beat Newcastle to Manzambi Signing
Manzambi had been on the verge of joining Newcastle United after the Magpies reached an agreement with Freiburg last week. However, Aston Villa moved decisively to secure the transfer, with the 20-year-old reportedly choosing Villa Park as his preferred destination.
The talented midfielder has enjoyed a rapid rise in European football. He scored three goals for Switzerland during their run to the World Cup quarter-finals, where they were eventually knocked out by Argentina.
Europa League Star Arrives at Villa Park
Manzambi is already familiar with Aston Villa, having faced Unai Emery’s side in the Europa League final in Istanbul in May. Villa claimed a convincing 3-0 victory, ending the club’s 30-year wait for major silverware.
Following an impressive campaign, Manzambi was named the Europa League Young Player of the Season after scoring seven goals in 47 appearances across all competitions. His performances helped Freiburg secure a seventh-place finish in the Bundesliga.
Midfield Reinforcements Needed at Aston Villa
Villa’s move for Manzambi comes after the departure of Youri Tielemans, who joined Manchester United in a £35 million transfer after the Red Devils activated the Belgian midfielder’s release clause.
The club are also without Amadou Onana, who is expected to miss the remainder of the year after suffering a serious knee injury while representing Belgium at the World Cup.
Aston Villa Balancing Transfers and Financial Rules
Despite strengthening their squad, Aston Villa remain mindful of UEFA’s Financial Sustainability Regulations (FSR). To help balance the books, experienced left-back Lucas Digne is reportedly close to completing a return to Paris Saint-Germain.
The arrivals of Johan Manzambi and the expected signing of Joao Gomes underline Aston Villa’s ambition to build on last season’s success as Unai Emery continues to reshape his squad ahead of the new campaign.