Villa complete club record Manzambi signing

What the report says

Nile Post, carrying BBC Sport reporting, says Aston Villa have signed Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club-record fee of a little more than £50 million. The deal takes Manzambi to Villa Park and surpasses the amount Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years earlier, previously cited at £50 million.

The report says the 20-year-old had been close to joining Newcastle after the club reached an agreement with Freiburg, but Villa moved quickly and became his preferred option. Manzambi arrives after a standout season in Germany, where he scored seven times in 47 matches in all competitions as Freiburg finished seventh in the Bundesliga. He was also named the Europa League Young Player of the Season.

According to the article, Manzambi played against Villa in the Europa League final in Istanbul in May, when Unai Emery’s side beat Freiburg 3-0 to end a 30-year trophy wait. He also scored three goals for Switzerland at the World Cup, where they reached the quarter-finals before losing to Argentina.

The signing comes as Villa seek midfield cover following Youri Tielemans’ reported £35 million move to Manchester United and a serious knee injury to Onana that is expected to keep him out until next year. The report adds that Villa are nearing a £38 million move for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, while Lucas Digne is close to returning to Paris St-Germain as the club manages Uefa financial rules.