Midfielder Amadou Onana has officially joined Aston Villa from Everton, for a reputed £50 million. The BBC first reported on the deal.
The 22-year-old has left Goodison Park after two years and joined Unai Emery’s team.
After players like Ross Barkley, Ian Maatsen, Samuel Iling-Junior, and Enzo Barrenechea entered Villa Park this summer, Onana is the seventh player to sign with the team.
Similar to Barkley, Cameron Archer has rejoined the team as a result of his special agreement with Sheffield United, which required him to return to Villa following The Blades’ relegation from the previous campaign.
After forward Lewis Dobbin joined The Villans in June for an undisclosed amount, Onana is the second player from Everton to join The Villans during this transfer window.
Onana is anticipated to take over for Douglas Luiz, who departed the team earlier in the summer to join Juventus, the legendary Italian team.
Iling-Junior, 20, made the opposite move and joined Villa from the Serie A team as part of the deal for the Brazilian.
After signing from French team LOSC Lille in 2022, Onana spent two years on Merseyside and made 72 appearances for The Toffees.
The Senegalese midfielder was a key component in Everton’s 2022–2023 top flight survival, as they survived relegation by an only two points.
Just two months before he transferred to the Premier League, Onana made his debut for The Red Devils under Roberto Martinez. He has since played 17 times for The Red Devils and represents Belgium internationally.
He participated in all four of the country’s Euro 2024 games in Germany this summer, playing every minute of them until France defeated them in the round of 16.
In preparation for the team’s return to Europe’s top club competition, the UEFA Champions League, Emery is strengthening his roster.
The Spaniard guided Villa to their best top-four finish since the 1995–96 season during the previous campaign.