Aston Villa are set to receive a financial payment from FIFA after midfielder Amadou Onana suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup, with the governing body's Club Benefits Programme covering his wages up to a maximum of £4.68 million.

Onana's tournament ends in heartbreak

Onana was forced off in the first half of Belgium's group-stage victory over the United States, where he had lined up alongside club teammate Youri Tielemans in central midfield. He was subsequently seen on crutches with a brace around his knee, and the injury was later confirmed as an ACL tear.

The diagnosis means Onana faces an extended spell on the sidelines — most likely ruling him out for the majority, if not the entirety, of the coming season. It is a significant blow for manager Unai Emery, who relied on Onana in 38 appearances across all competitions last term, including 12 in the UEFA Europa League.

Villa forced into the transfer market

According to transfer journalist David Ornstein, the injury has pushed Villa into the market for midfield reinforcements — a position they had not previously identified as a priority. The club also have Boubacar Kamara returning from his own ACL injury sustained in the second half of last season. While Kamara is expected back for pre-season, he will need to be carefully managed as he builds up his match fitness.

Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season and now face the heightened demands of a UEFA Champions League campaign. With Onana having been such a central figure in Emery's midfield system, addressing this gap is likely to consume a significant portion of the club's summer transfer budget.

The FIFA Club Benefits Programme offers some financial relief, covering Onana's salary during his recovery period up to the stated ceiling of £4.68 million — ensuring Villa are not left paying wages for a player unavailable for selection throughout an already gruelling schedule.

Elsewhere in the Villa squad, Ollie Watkins continued to represent England at the tournament, while John McGinn exited at the group stage with Scotland.