Aston Villa on the verge of securing a £50m deal for midfielder previously linked with Arsenal

It seems the transfer links between Amadou Onana and Arsenal have ceased, as Aston Villa is now closing in on a deal to acquire the Everton midfielder.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Amadou Onana of Everton celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate James Tarkowski during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on February 19, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Amadou Onana of Everton celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate James Tarkowski during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on February 19, 2024.

According to David Ornstein’s report for The Athletic on Saturday morning, Aston Villa are finalizing an agreement with Everton to sign Amadou Onana.

Reportedly valued at around £50m, the deal includes agreed-upon personal terms for a long-term contract. Unai Emery had prioritized Onana as a key target, and the player is eager to join the Spanish manager.

Arsenal were once linked with an interest in Onana, but that potential move now appears to be off the table.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 14: Amadou Onana of Everton acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Everton FC and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on January 14, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND: Amadou Onana of Everton acknowledges the fans after the Premier League match between Everton FC and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on January 14, 2024

John Cross, writing for the Mirror in June, stated definitively that Onana was “definitely not” joining Arsenal this summer. He also mentioned that media links suggesting otherwise had raised eyebrows as early as January.

Cross went as far as to claim that Onana “is not the type of midfielder [Arsenal] want”. However, less than a week later, The Athletic reported that while Onana does have admirers at Arsenal, a move for his signature was never in the works this summer.

Belgian national soccer team Red Devils' Amadou Onana takes part in a training session, two days before their international friendly football match, at the Royal Belgian Football Association RBFA's headquarters in Tubize on March 26, 2023. (Photo by Tom Goyvaerts / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT (Photo by TOM GOYVAERTS/Belga/AFP via Getty Images)
Belgian national soccer team Red Devils’ Amadou Onana takes part in a training session, two days before their international friendly football match, at the Royal Belgian Football Association RBFA’s headquarters in Tubize on March 26, 2023.

Further reports later in the month indicated that a Champions League club had contacted Everton regarding Onana, initially rumored to be Arsenal. However, it now appears more likely that the club in question was Aston Villa, who will also be competing in the Champions League next season.

 

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