Aston Villa have completed the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg in a club-record deal worth £59.5m, beating Newcastle United to one of the summer's most coveted midfielders.

The total package, including add-ons, amounts to approximately £59.5m (€70m) according to Sky Sports' German sources — surpassing the £50m Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana in the summer of 2024.

Pipping Newcastle to the prize

Newcastle United had appeared on course to land Manzambi, having agreed a deal worth £49m with Freiburg. Villa, however, moved decisively in the closing stages of negotiations, outbidding Eddie Howe's side to secure the 20-year-old's signature.

Manzambi, a Switzerland international, announced himself to a global audience at the FIFA World Cup 2026, where he scored three goals as Switzerland advanced to the quarter-finals — one of the tournament's most eye-catching individual performances.

A statement signing for Villa

The deal underlines Aston Villa's ambition as they continue to invest heavily in young, high-potential talent. At just 20 years old, Manzambi arrives at Villa Park as the club's most expensive signing in their history, a reflection of how dramatically the club's financial standing has risen in recent seasons.

The move eclipses the previous club record set when Villa brought Onana to the Midlands from Everton two summers ago. With Manzambi's profile raised significantly by his World Cup displays, Villa have moved quickly to secure him ahead of several other interested clubs.