Aston Villa Break Club Transfer Record to Sign Johan Manzambi From Freiburg
Aston Villa have signed midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club record fee of just over £50m, BBC Sport reports. The fee beats the £50m Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago, making the Switzerland international the most expensive signing in the club's history.
The move comes after Newcastle had appeared close to landing Manzambi, having agreed a deal with Freiburg last week. Villa moved quickly once it became clear the 20 year old preferred Villa Park, completing the deal ahead of the Magpies.
Manzambi arrives with a growing reputation. He scored three goals for Switzerland as they reached the World Cup quarter finals before losing to Argentina, was named Europa League Young Player of the Season, and scored seven goals in 47 appearances for Freiburg last term as they finished seventh in the Bundesliga. He also faced Villa directly in the Europa League final in Istanbul in May, when Unai Emery's side won 3-0 to end a 30 year wait for a major trophy.
The signing addresses a short of midfield numbers. Villa sold Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35m after United triggered his release clause, and Onana remains sidelined into next year following a serious knee injury suffered at the World Cup with Belgium.
Villa are also closing in on a second midfield addition, with Wolves' Joao Gomes leaving the Championship club's Portugal training camp on Thursday to undergo a medical ahead of a reported £38m move. With Uefa financial fair play compliance in mind, left back Lucas Digne is close to rejoining Paris Saint-Germain.
