Aston Villa have completed the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club record fee of just over £50m — snatching the Switzerland midfielder from under the noses of Newcastle, who were days away from landing him.
The 20-year-old, who scored three goals for Switzerland at the World Cup before they lost to Argentina in the quarter-finals, was on the verge of joining the Magpies last week after they agreed a deal with Freiburg. But Villa moved quickly and Manzambi chose Villa Park as his preferred destination.
“Villa break transfer record to sign Johan Manzambi for £50m, snatching him from Newcastle after Tielemans leaves.”
The deal eclipses the £50m Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago. Onana is now out with a serious knee injury suffered at the World Cup with Belgium and will not return until next year, while Youri Tielemans has left for Manchester United in a £35m transfer that caught some off guard.
Tielemans’ release clause was not widely known — even a key figure involved in brokering the deal that brought him to Villa was unaware of its existence, according to The Athletic. Tielemans, who signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, said: “It’s hard to describe just how proud I am to join Manchester United. Signing for such a special club feels incredible.”
United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, added: “Youri has consistently been one of the most outstanding midfielders in the Premier League throughout the past seven years.”
Villa, needing midfield reinforcements after Tielemans’ departure and Onana’s absence, are also close to completing a £38m move for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who left Wolves’ training camp in Portugal on Thursday to complete a medical.
But it is Manzambi who represents the start of a new era. He was on Villa’s watchlist since last season and had been coveted by more than half the Premier League. A knee injury that ruled him out of Switzerland’s last-16 win over Colombia and the quarter‑final defeat against Argentina gave him time to decide his future amid Newcastle’s interest.
Last term Manzambi — who won the Europa League Young Player of the Season award — ranked first in the Bundesliga for 10‑plus metre progressive carries (116), shot‑ending carries (13) and fouls won (78) as opponents tried to stop him. He was the most fouled player in the division and only three younger players had more goals and assists. He also played against Villa in the Europa League final in May, where Unai Emery’s side won 3‑0 to end a 30‑year trophy drought.
His versatility — especially given Onana’s serious knee injury — makes him even more important as Villa aim to build on their European triumph.