Aston Villa seal £52m club-record deal for Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi | OneFootball

Aston Villa have signed Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club-record £52m, Unai Emery’s first addition of the window.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the 20-year-old Switzerland midfielder arrives for a fee above the £50m paid for Amadou Onana two years ago. He faced Villa in last season’s Europa League final.

He had appeared set for Newcastle after they agreed a £49m fee with Freiburg last week, but Villa moved late to hijack the transfer.

“I’m very excited to be here and to be training with Unai Emery and the team. I am very, very happy and I am excited to play with this club,” said Manzambi.

He added: “It’s a very big club in England and they’re playing in the Champions League. I’ve already played against Aston Villa, and for me, it was the perfect plan.”

Joao Gomes is close to a £38m switch from Wolves and was at Bodymoor Heath on Friday for a medical.

Villa have held talks with Bayern Munich over a loan for Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha amid a midfield reshuffle after Youri Tielemans left for Manchester United and Onana suffered a long-term injury.

A move for AC Milan left-back Pervis Estupinan is progressing, with further steps expected next week, and he is targeted to replace Lucas Digne, who is on the verge of joining Paris Saint-Germain.

Emery also wants a winger, admiring PSG teenager Ibrahim Mbaye, while Flamengo’s Emerson Royal remains an option at right-back.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com