Villa complete club record Manzambi signing

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that Aston Villa have signed Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club-record fee of slightly more than £50m, making him Unai Emery’s first addition of the summer. The 20-year-old’s move to Villa Park surpasses the £50m fee Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago.

According to the report, Manzambi had been close to joining Newcastle after that club reached an agreement with Freiburg, but Villa acted quickly and the player favoured the Birmingham club. His arrival comes after a prominent season in Germany and Europe: BBC Sport says he scored seven times in 47 appearances for Freiburg in all competitions, was named the Europa League’s Young Player of the Season, and featured against Villa in May’s final in Istanbul, which Emery’s side won 3-0 to end a 30-year wait for a trophy.

The signing also follows Manzambi’s strong World Cup with Switzerland, where BBC Sport says he scored three goals before his side went out to Argentina in the quarter-finals. Villa are seeking midfield depth after Youri Tielemans moved to Manchester United for £35m through a release clause, while Onana is expected to be sidelined until next year because of a serious knee injury sustained with Belgium at the World Cup.

BBC Sport adds that Villa are nearing a £38m deal for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who left Wolves’ training camp in Portugal to undergo a medical. The report also notes Villa are managing tight finances under Uefa rules, with Lucas Digne close to returning to Paris St-Germain.