Amadou Onana’s £50m move from Everton to Aston Villa has been completed and it is one that suits all parties.
The 22-year-old did not fulfil his potential on Merseyside after joining from Lille in 2022, and he will have jumped at the chance of testing himself in the Champions League next season.
Unai Emery has worked wonders since being appointed as Villa boss and he will be excited at the opportunity of working with a player of Onana’s talent.
The deep-lying midfielder represented Belgium at Euro 2024 but was not an automatic starter in his final few months under Sean Dyche at Goodison Park.
Many Toffees supporters will be unperturbed by his departure, having not taken to his languid demeanour and feeling like he often went missing in games.
The deal will allow Everton to reinvest the cash in other parts of the squad, with firm interest in Napoli winger Jesper Lindstrom and Leeds United forward Wilfried Gnonto.
By Ebubedike Ochu