- Amadou Onana has joined Aston Villa from Everton in a deal worth £50million
- The Belgian international, aged 22, departs Goodison Park after two seasons
- He will help replace Douglas Luiz, who signed for Juventus earlier this summer
Amadou Onana has finally completed his move to Aston Villa from Everton.
The Belgian midfielder, 22, has joined Villa for around £50million and has become their record signing ahead of Moussa Diaby.
Villa are preparing for their return to Europe’s top table for the first time since 1983 in the Champions League.
Onana joined Everton in 2022 for £33m and racked up 72 appearances for the side, serving as a key player in their battles against relegation.
Mail Sport reported almost two months ago that Onana was likely to leave Goodison Park this summer amid financial pressures ramping up on the Merseyside club.
Amadou Onana has signed for Aston Villa from Everton in a deal worth £50million
The Belgian international’s arrival has taken Villa’s summer spending to around £140m
Earlier this month Villa’s bid was accepted and Onana agreed personal terms with his new side, though it took a while for the deal to be officially completed.
Villa have held a longstanding interest in Onana. Other clubs, such as Arsenal and Manchester United, were keen but never stepped up their pursuits. The Gunners made contact over a deal in May but never followed up with an offer.
He will serve as a replacement for Douglas Luiz, who joined Juventus at the end of June for around £42m.
Onana brings international experience, having been capped 17 times for Belgium and appeared at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 with them.
The Villans have already poached 21-year-old striker Lewis Dobbin from Everton this summer, while midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, 20, has gone in the other direction.
‘Everton thanks Amadou for his service and wishes him well for the future,’ the Toffees wrote.
Plenty of comments under Villa’s announcement post referenced an awkward moment from Onana’s Euros campaign with Belgian.
A reported mistakenly confused him with Manchester Unitedd goalkeeper Andre Onana, prompting the midfielder to say, in a perfect English accent: ‘Andre is not even my name, mate.’
Onana made 72 appearances for Everton and became in-demand…