Aston Villa have completed the signing of Amadou Onana from Everton.
The Athletic reported earlier this month that the two clubs were finalising a deal in the region of £50million after personal terms had been agreed between Villa and the 22-year-old on a long-term contract.
Onana has made 72 appearances for Everton since joining from Lille for initial £30m in the summer of 2022 — the French club are entitled to 20 per cent of the profit made on any sale.
Manchester United, Arsenal and Newcastle United were among the clubs credited with an interest in signing the central midfielder.
The Belgian international becomes the third central midfielder to join Villa this summer following the arrivals of Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus and Ross Barkley from Luton Town. Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz has joined Juventus, Tim Iroegbunam has moved to Everton and Morgan Sanson has made his deal to Nice permanent.
Villa have also completed deals to sign left-back Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, wingers Samuel Illing-Junior, Lewis Dobbin and Jaden Philogene have joined from Juventus, Everton and Hull City respectively while Cameron Archer has re-joined the club from Sheffield United.
Onana had been participating with Belgium in the European Championship this summer, but his nation were knocked out by France in the last-16 stage of the tournament.
GO DEEPER
Onana fits Emery’s vision for Aston Villa as a Champions League team
Onana fits Emery’s vision
Analysis by The Athletic’s Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell
Aston Villa and Unai Emery wanted the newfound riches that come with Champions League football to enable them to buy premium talent.
One area Villa identified as they seek to purchase players at that level was central midfield. The departure of Douglas Luiz, sold to Juventus to satisfy profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), accentuated Emery’s desire to seek additions in that position.
To buy a player with such a well-drilled and varied toolkit comes at a premium, physically and financially. It is why Villa made concerted efforts to strengthen the depth in the position, signing Enzo Barrenechea and Ross Barkley this summer. But the desire throughout was to recruit a first-choice starter who could take Villa to the next level.
Emery admired Conor Gallagher immensely, but Onana offers a higher technical ceiling and the England midfielder still holds a large emotional attachment to his boyhood club Chelsea, making a move difficult.
Close to 6ft 4in (195cm), Onana carries discernible physical gifts; a tall frame that allows a rangy, athletic stride that can cover ground quickly and, even at 22, he has shown a tactical astuteness to complement his instincts.
(Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
