Aston Villa complete club-record signing Johan Manzambi for ~£52m

sportsJul 17, 202628281

Aston Villa have completed the signing of 20-year-old Switzerland international midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club-record fee reported at about £52 million. Manzambi joins Villa Park on a long-term deal after joining Freiburg in 2024 from Servette and making 58 first-team appearances with nine goals and 11 assists. Newcastle United had reached an agreement in principle with Freiburg, but Manzambi chose Villa and the club moved to finalise the transfer. Villa accelerated their midfield recruitment after Amadou Onana suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear and following Youri Tielemans' confirmed move to Manchester United. Manzambi played in Switzerland’s first four World Cup games, recording three goals and two assists, and said he was "very, very happy" to be training under Unai Emery and playing for a Champions League club.

Jacob Tanswell

@jacobtanswell.bsky.social

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg. Club record in excess of £50m. Regarded as a significant coup internally and among PL clubs. #AVFC

334h ago

Steve2

Though our recruitment hasn’t been stellar, this, tentatively, seems like a very good thing! #utv

John Townley

@johntownley.bsky.social

#AVFC have completed the signing of Johan Manzambi from SC Freiburg for a club-record £52m. The 20yo midfielder joins Villa after a superb World Cup campaign, having also played a key role in helping Freiburg reach the Europa League final. 🇨🇭

274h ago

Fabrizio Romano (MIRROR)

@fabrizioromano.yopro20.com

🚨🟣🔵 João Gomes to Aston Villa, here we go! Verbal agreement in place at €40m fee plus €5m add-ons. Wolves accept £38m package and authorize medical for João Gomes to #AVFC. Gomes left training to travel and complete move, as @johntownley11 reported.

13Yesterday

Frankie Maguire

@frankiemaguire.bsky.social

Aston Villa's centre midfield next season... Joao Gomes, Joao Palhinha, Joaobacar Kamara, Joaomine Bogarde. Joaoss Barkley. #avfc

19Yesterday

Sue Mason-Burns3

We have at least lightened the Gomes load for Wolves. They had far too many

Ian Akehurst2

Can Joaonai Emery knit them all together?

Teep1

this part of the pod had me lmao great work as usual Frankie

now.arsenal

@nowarsenal.bsky.social

🚨Arsenal and Aston Villa are in club to club direct talks for the transfer of Morgan Rogers. [@HandofArsenal]

186h ago

Sam Tighe

@stighefootball.bsky.social

Everyone I’ve spoken to - scouts, analysis, regional experts - has had nothing but immense praise for Johan Manzambi. Everyone thinks he’s brilliant and that it’s a super deal for Villa. If Morgan Rogers goes, the replacement has to be right. If that’s Manzambi, fair enough.

204h ago

Aston Villa Statto

@avfcstatto.bsky.social

🚨𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋: Johan Manzambi will wear the number 44 for Aston Villa which was previously held by Boubcar Kamara who now wears the number 8 on his back❗ #AVFC

194h ago

Ben Jacobs

@jacobsben.bsky.social

Aston Villa confirm Johan Manzambi has joined from Freiburg. Club-record signing, surpassing the £50m Villa paid for Amadou Onana.🇨🇭 🗣️ Manzambi: “It’s a very big club in England and they are playing in the #UCL.”

134h ago

Quoting this

Grey Eye Magpie2

🤣 lol did he have to add that qualifier about playing in the UCL #nufc

Vin_the_Villan!

@avfc-usa83.bsky.social

Villans… We all knew this was coming…and it sucks… But ya know what this is the best year to have it happen….we will be able to offer Champions League and are prime to compete in the league again ( for European slots) Imagine this happening on the back of a shit year… #avfc #vtid #utv

14Yesterday

Steven D ☘️4

If we can clear 100m after paying M'boro their fee it's excellent business. I genuinely, genuinely won't be that bothered about him going because I spent 2/3 of last season pulling my hair out because of how shite he was playing 🫣 #AVFC

Peanut Punch 331

Reckon we will sell for about 115-120M, of which we get 80%. The squad needed a refresh abd is definitely getting younger in other areas.

Aaron Allermann1

Nobody you'd rather have navigating this than Emery. These are windows that will determine whether this is all temporary or whether Villa truly becomes one of the new Big Clubs and we've got exactly the man to steer.

paulthevillan.bsky.social1

I'm thinking Morgan will stay for another year at least. He probably gets a new Contract and a clause inserted (wild guess) btw

Dan

@cratesofhippos.bsky.social

Hopefully this summer of signing Joaos is better than that summer where we signed loads of Jordans. #avfc

12Yesterday

Lisa

@celticvillan.bsky.social

We move on. Always Villa! Bring on the new season!! #AVFC

12Yesterday

1000 Volts of Holte1

Back to supporting my own team - far better option!

Mrs O1

Do we know if the pre season matches are on Villa TV?

Jason Pendrix

@texasvillan.bsky.social

Texas guy, novice to the world of football, I’m all in on Aston Villa. The club speaks to me, can’t explain why. I don’t know all the history or rivalries yet, but I’m here to learn. Villa supporters and fellow football fans, follow me and I’ll follow back. #AVFC #UTV #AstonVilla #Football

109h ago

Matt Qualls 1

You don't choose Villa, Villa chooses you. That's how the club speaks to you. Ohio/Florida Villan.

Steven D ☘️1

Welcome! And always, always, expect the unexpected 😂 UTV

Des 🦁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇪1

You have chosen well. Enjoy the ride. UTV

Eddie 🦁1

You've picked the perfect club to experience dizzying highs, and soul crushing lows.

Jerry Reed1

Welcome. Georgia Villan here. Enjoy the ride. #UTV

D.T1

Welcome on board. Villa can ruin your weekends, but when you have a season like the last one, it's all worth it. UTV.

Daily Cannon

@dailycannon.com

Fabrizio Romano reporting that Arsenal are working on the signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. dailycannon.com/2026/07/vill...

87h ago

Talk Villa

@talkvilla.bsky.social

🚨✅ Villa announce the signing of Johan Manzambi. Brilliant signing. Hugely talented, big potential & has the attributes to be a great fit for us. Add in the guidance of Unai Emery to improve & develop his game, very excited about this one. #avfc #UTV 🇨🇭🟣🔵

54h ago

Koalatovmocktail

@koalatovmocktail.bsky.social

Apparently when choosing a shirt sponsor you don’t also consider the ethical position of the sponsor or the impact on the club’s reputation. #AVFC #sportswashing

712h ago

3 sources

nytimes.comAston Villa complete signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg (Gift Article)birminghammail.co.ukAston Villa complete club-record £52m transfer for Johan Manzambi avfc.co.ukAston Villa confirm Johan Manzambi signing

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Aston Villa complete club-record signing Johan Manzambi for ~£52m

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