Aston Villa transfers: Johan Manzambi signs in club record deal
Aston Villa has signed Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club-record fee of over £50 million. The club is actively restructuring its midfield following the sale of Youri Tielemans and a long-term injury to Amadou Onana.
Why it matters
Major football transfers reflect the financial health and strategic planning of top-tier sports clubs within the competitive European market.
Figure caption, Switzerland's Manzambi scores superb double against Bosnia
Football reporter Published 17 July 2026 Aston Villa have completed the signing of midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club record fee of just over £50m.
The Switzerland international moves to Villa Park in a deal eclipsing the £50m Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago.
Villa are also close to completing the £38m signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who left the Championship club's training camp in Portugal on Thursday to complete a medical.
Manzambi was on the verge of joining Newcastle last week after the Magpies agreed a deal with Freiburg, but Villa moved quickly and was his preferred destination.
The 20-year-old scored three goals for Switzerland as they reached the quarter finals of the World Cup before losing to Argentina.
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