Ex-Everton £33m Star Reveals Move Drama: Did Losing Him Signal Deeper Club Structural Issues? | OneFootball

Amadou Onana recently spoke with Sports Illustrated FC. He opened up about his move to Everton in August 2022. He specifically highlighted how Frank Lampard convinced him to choose Goodison Park over other options. Lampard called Onana two to three times a day during that transfer window. This persistence made it nearly impossible for the midfielder to refuse the offer. Onana was only 20 years old then. He was still finding his footing in European football. Such personal attention from a Premier League icon carried enormous weight.

Frank Lampard’s Phone Calls That Changed Amadou Onana’s Career Forever

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MARCH 09: Amadou Onana of Everton FC during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton FC at Old Trafford on March 09, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Onana recounted a memorable moment involving his sister. She tried to reach him repeatedly that day. When he finally answered, she told him his new manager wanted to speak with him. Onana admitted he already knew the caller’s identity. However, he still needed a double-take to process the reality. He described Lampard as a true football legend. His reputation stretched far beyond English shores. Onana grew up in Senegal and watched the Premier League on television. He noted that you cannot mention the league without mentioning Frank Lampard.

At his official Everton unveiling, Onana praised Lampard’s career. The manager played at the highest level and won many trophies. Because Lampard was a midfielder himself, his interest meant a great deal to Onana. He also noticed that Lampard built genuine relationships with his players.

He communicated closely with them. Onana particularly appreciated this style. He even recalled Lampard participating in shooting drills during training. The former manager still showed the touch that made him famous. Everton paid £33 million to bring Onana to Merseyside from Lille. The club beat West Ham to his signature after the London club failed to meet his wage demands.

“My sister was calling my phone – she’d been calling my phone a few times that day – when she told me, the gaffer wants to speak to you. So I’m thinking who’s the gaffer? And she goes, Frank Lampard.

“Obviously in my head, I already knew it was him, but I had to kind of double check. Do you know what I’m saying? It was like a, is this real kind of thing.

“He’s a football legend. Do you know what I mean? Not a Premier League legend. He’s a football legend. Playing in the Prem was always a dream and he was the one that gave me the opportunity. He just had the flair, you know, he could smell it, where to be, what to do, so I learned a lot from him.”

Did Everton’s Inability to Hold Onana Signal a Deeper Structural Problem?

Onana joined Aston Villa in July 2024. The deal cost £50 million. This nearly doubled the fee Everton originally paid. Now 24 years old, Onana plays regularly for the Belgium national team. He has recorded two goals in 21 Premier League appearances for Villa so far in the 2025/26 season.

The reality is clear. Everton identified and signed one of Europe’s most gifted young midfielders. They nurtured him through two seasons. Then, they watched him leave for a club with genuine European ambitions. Lampard’s instinct about Onana was correct. However, the infrastructure at Everton never matched the vision that first attracted the player.