Aston Villa have signed midfielder Amadou Onana from Everton in a £50 million deal.
The 22-year-old played every minute of Belgium’s Euro 2024 campaign and now has the chance to represent Villa in the upcoming season’s Champions League.
Onana joined Everton from Lille for £33 million in 2022 and made 72 appearances for the Toffees, scoring four goals.
He was linked with a move to Arsenal in 2023, and several top clubs were reportedly interested this summer.
Villa manager Unai Emery had been searching for a new defensive midfielder after the club sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £42.35 million in June.
Villa, who finished fourth in the Premier League last season, are strengthening their squad for the Champions League challenge ahead.
Following their European Cup victory, they have not competed at that elite level since the 1982-83 season.
Onana’s arrival has taken Villa’s summer spending to approximately £140 million.
Villa have also invested £35 million in Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, £18.6 million on the double signing of Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus, £18 million on Jaden Philogene’s return from Hull, £5 million on Ross Barkley’s move from Luton, and £9 million on Lewis Dobbin’s transfer from Everton.
They will begin their Premier League campaign at West Ham on Saturday, August 17.
