Aston Villa has announced the signing of Switzerland’s FIFA World Cup star Johan Manzambi for a club record deal.

Manzambi, a pacy midfielder, impressed for Switzerland at the World Cup, scoring three goals and creating two as it reached the quarterfinals. However, he missed out on the latter stages of the tournament with injury.

The 20-year-old joins on a transfer from Bundesliga SC Freiburg. He had previously been linked with a transfer to Newcastle United.

Manzambi played against Villa in the UEFA Europa League final last season, where he was named Young Player of the Season. He scored seven goals in all competition last year.

Manzambi’s arrival is crucial for an Aston Villa side that is currently light on midfield options. Youri Tielemans has left to join Manchester United, while Amadou Onana has suffered an ACL injury.

Published on Jul 17, 2026