Aston Villa has made a significant signing by bringing in midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton in a £50m deal. Onana, who is only 22 years old, showcased his talent by playing every minute for Belgium in the Euro 2024 tournament. Now, he has the chance to represent Villa in the upcoming Champions League season.
Onana initially joined Everton from Lille for £33m back in 2022 and went on to make 72 appearances for the Toffees, scoring four goals in the process. His impressive performances caught the attention of several top clubs, including Arsenal in 2023. However, it is Villa who have secured his services, with manager Unai Emery identifying him as the ideal candidate to fill the void left by the departure of Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42.35m in June.
Excited about the prospect of playing in the Champions League once again, Onana expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I’ll be playing in the Champions League again and that’s very exciting.” He also credited Villa midfielder and Belgium teammate Youri Tielemans for playing a significant role in convincing him to join the club.
Villa, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, are preparing for the challenge of competing in the Champions League after a long absence from the elite level. Their last appearance in the competition was during the 1982-83 season, following their European Cup triumph.
The addition of Onana takes Villa’s summer spending spree to approximately £140m. In addition to Onana, Villa has made several other significant signings, including Ian Maatsen from Chelsea for £35m, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus for £18.6m, Jaden Philogene’s return from Hull for £18m, Ross Barkley’s move from Luton for £5m, and Lewis Dobbin’s transfer from Everton for £9m.
Fans can look forward to watching Villa kick off their Premier League campaign against West Ham on Saturday, 17 August. The club’s ambitious recruitment strategy and focus on strengthening the squad indicate their determination to compete at the highest level in the upcoming season. With the talented Onana now in their ranks, Villa supporters have reason to be optimistic about the team’s prospects in the Champions League and beyond.