A Belgian midfielder who played every minute of the Belgium national team’s disappointing Euro 2024 campaign in Germany has secured a move to Aston Villa from Everton.

Amadou Onana, a seventeen-cap midfielder, played thirty games for Everton that impressively avoided relegation despite a points deduction due to financial fair play. 

From playing for an almost relegated club side, the 22-year-old midfielder will play in the UEFA Champions League for Aston Villa in the 2024/2025 season. Aston Villa secured his signature in a £50m deal on Monday.

Onana only moved to Everton from Lille in 2022 for £33m and played 72 times for the Toffees. He was rumored to be close to joining Arsenal last year while other clubs were interested in his services.

However, it is Unai Emery who has found a replacement for the exiting Douglas Luis, who moved to Juventus this summer, as Onana gets excited for the adventures ahead at Villa Park, especially Champions League football.

“I’ll be playing in the Champions League again, and that’s very exciting. We also have a manager that’s one of the best in the business and I think he can take my game to the next level. Youri played a big part in me being here because he told me lots of good stuff about the club,” said Onana.

Aston Villa finished fourth on the Premier League table in the 2023/2024 season and they have been boosting their squad ahead of their return to the UEFA Champions League in the 2024/2025 season.

The club is returning to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since the 1982/83 season, a season after they won the European Cup.

Aside from Onana, Villa have signed Ian Maatsen from Chelsea for £35m, Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea from Juventus for £18.6m combined, splashed £18m on Jaden Philogene from Hull, brought Ross Barkley from Luton for £5m and £9m on Lewis Dobbin’s transfer from Everton.