Aston Villa have broken their transfer record by signing Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg in a deal worth more than £50m. The move comes just months after Villa ended a 30-year wait for silverware with their Europa League triumph in May, and the 20-year-old is viewed as the start of a new era at Villa Park.
Manzambi had been on Villa’s watchlist since the start of last season, and a move this summer was widely anticipated. The club acted decisively amid interest from more than half of the Premier League, with an awareness that the opportunity may not arise again — particularly given his rapid rise to senior international level, having represented Switzerland just twice at Under-21 level before earning a senior call-up. He has since scored six goals in 16 appearances for the national team, including three at the World Cup.
His statistics from last season underline why Villa were so keen. Manzambi ranked first in the Bundesliga for 10-plus metre progressive carries with 116, shot-ending carries with 13, and fouls won with 78, making him the most fouled player in the division. He was second for total take-ons with 71, opposition half take-ons with 52, and total carry progress at 2,476 metres. He also won the Europa League young player of the season award after helping Freiburg reach the competition’s final, where they were beaten by Villa.
The signing arrives alongside a separate deal to bring Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes to the club for £38m. Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season, securing Champions League football for the second time in three years, yet the club find themselves needing to manage their business carefully to remain compliant with financial regulations they feel have constrained them.
Despite that backdrop, Villa moved quickly when Manzambi’s commitment to a move wavered, and the club view the calculated risk of making him their record signing as one worth taking. Only Yan Diomande, Bazoumana Toure and Can Uzun were younger players in the Bundesliga last season with more goals and assists than the Swiss international.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
