Aston Villa dealt major blow as Amadou Onana suffers ACL injury at World Cup | OneFootball

Aston Villa have been dealt a significant injury setback after midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Belgium’s World Cup Round of 16 victory over the United States.

The Belgium international was forced off after just 21 minutes of his side’s convincing 4-1 win, immediately raising concerns over the seriousness of the injury.

Those fears were later confirmed after medical assessments revealed the 24-year-old had sustained an ACL rupture that is expected to keep him out for an extended period.

Onana was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches with a protective brace on his right knee.

Belgium’s players paid tribute to their team-mate after the final whistle.

Romelu Lukaku celebrated his stoppage-time goal by holding up Onana’s No. 24 shirt in an emotional gesture as Belgium secured their place in the World Cup quarter-finals.

The injury represents a huge setback for Aston Villa ahead of the new campaign.

Manager Unai Emery had been expected to build his midfield around Onana alongside Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans after the trio impressed together during Villa’s successful 2025-26 season.

Onana featured 38 times across all competitions last term as Villa lifted the Europa League trophy and secured qualification for this season’s Champions League.

The Belgian has become one of Emery’s most important players since arriving from Everton in the summer of 2024.

He has now made 72 appearances for Villa, establishing himself as a key figure with his athleticism, ball-winning ability and presence in midfield.

Villa had not been prioritising midfield reinforcements during the summer transfer window.

However, Onana’s long-term absence is now expected to force the club to reassess its recruitment plans before the transfer deadline.

The timing is particularly unfortunate given Kamara is only just closing in on his own return from a serious knee injury.

The France international has not played since suffering a posterior cruciate ligament injury during Villa’s FA Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur in January.

Although Kamara has been progressing well in his rehabilitation and is targeting a return for pre-season, Villa will now face the prospect of beginning the campaign without Onana.

Belgium, meanwhile, must quickly regroup ahead of another major test.

Rudi Garcia’s side advanced to the last eight after eliminating the United States and will now face Spain for a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

The focus, however, has inevitably shifted to Onana, whose tournament has been brought to a heartbreaking end.

Villa will now await further medical assessments before confirming the midfielder’s rehabilitation programme, with the expectation that he faces many months on the sidelines as he begins the long road to recovery.