World Cup sensation Johan Manzambi has joined Aston Villa in a club record $96 million deal from Freiburg that makes him the most expensive Swiss player of all time.
Newcastle United thought they were about to seal the deal for the 20-year-old, who scored three World Cup goals in Switzerland’s run to the quarter finals, where they lost to Argentina.
But after reportedly agreeing a deal with the German club, Unai Emery’s Villa seized the moment and scooped the deal for the Europa League Young Player of the Season, who was part of Freiburg’s seventh placed finish in the Bundesliga.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin used him in a more advanced, creative role than he played in Germany, and was rewarded with three goals and two assists in four games before succumb to a knee injury before Switzerland’s win over Colombia.
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The signing reportedly marginally eclipses the previous record record fee the club paid Everton for Amadou Onana two seasons ago.
The Swiss star is no stranger to Emery, having played against Villa in the Europa League final in Istanbul, where the Spanish coach steered the Premier League club to a 3-0 win.
Emery has work to do in the market given Youri Tielemans’ departure to Manchester United, while Onana is badly injured with a knee problem suffered during Belgium’s World Cup campaign.
Villa are also rumoured to be losing Lucas Digne, who gave away the opening penalty against Spain in the World Cup semi final, to Paris Saint-Germain, but BBC reports they are on the verge of a $73m deal for Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes.
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