Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Switzerland midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg. The deal, announced on Friday, July 17, 2026, is worth a total of almost £59.5m (around €70m including add-ons), according to Sky in Germany, making it the most expensive transfer in the club's history.
The fee surpasses the £50m Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana in the summer of 2024. Manzambi is the club's first signing of the summer, with Villa the current Europa League holders.
The 20-year-old Switzerland international had also been a target for Newcastle: the Magpies had agreed a deal worth around £49m and the player had verbally agreed personal terms with Eddie Howe's side. Manzambi, however, had decided to wait until after the World Cup before making his final call. The prospect of Champions League football proved the decisive factor in his choice of Villa Park.
Manzambi was one of the breakout stars of the 2026 World Cup, scoring three goals in Switzerland's run to the quarter-finals. A central midfielder, he registered seven goals and nine assists in 47 games across all competitions last season at Freiburg and was named Europa League Young Player of the Season for his role in taking the German side to the final, which they lost 3-0 to Aston Villa in Istanbul.
Villa's midfield recruitment follows the £35m sale of Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and a serious knee injury suffered by Onana at the World Cup with Belgium, which is set to keep him out for a lengthy spell.
Sources
- [Sky Sports — Johan Manzambi: Aston Villa sign Newcastle target from Freiburg in club-record £59.5m deal](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/13564492/johan-manzambi-aston-villa-sign-newcastle-target-from-freiburg-in-club-record-lb59-5m-deal)
