Has any player made a bigger impact at his new employers this summer than Amadou Onana at Aston Villa?
Not only has the £50 million signing from Everton netted two goals in three Premier League games already this term – almost as many as he managed in 63 Toffees appearances – the towering Belgian has also added serious physicality and presence to an already impressive Aston Villa midfield.
One of the few weak spots in Villa’s side during a terrific 2023/24 campaign was the heart of their midfield, Boubacar Kamara’s injury highlighting the lack of genuine alternatives.
Amadou Onana, with his fearsome blend of size, strength, swagger and skill, fills that Kamara-shaped hole brilliantly while already making valuable contributions at both ends of the pitch.
The former Lille giant is not the only Aston Villa newbie who has flown out of the blocks in claret and blue, however.
Aston Villa beat Borussia Dortmund to Ian Maatsen deal
After darting down the left-hand side, Ian Maatsen cushioned a perfect first-time pass into the feet of Jacob Ramsey.
In turn, Ramsey set up Jhon Duran to fire Aston Villa past West Ham United at the London Stadium, the Dutchman helping ensure that Unai Emery’s side would kick off 2024/25 with an impressive win on the road.
Maatsen, unlike Onana, has been restricted to an impact sub role so far.
But the £37 million signing from Chelsea has already provided a few tantalising glimpses into his potential, determined to put a difficult Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid behind him.
It was Maatsen, on his final appearance for Borussia Dortmund, who gave possession away in the build up to Real’s clincher.
Despite that, Dortmund were still determined to keep a player who had made such an impression en route to Wembley. Maatsen now confirms, speaking to Algemeen Dagblad, that he initially planned to re-join Die Schwarzgelben on a permanent basis.
HITC understands that Bayern Munich were also keen.
But once it became apparent that Dortmund did not have the funds to meet Chelsea’s asking price, Maatsen was only too happy to accept Aston Villa as an alternative.
“When I left Dortmund, the plan was to return,” explains the one-time Burnley and Coventry City wideman. “They just didn’t have the budget of Aston Villa.”
Maatsen also felt that he had unfinished business in England’s top flight. He made only one start in the competition, after all, in Chelsea colours.
“It was also a dream of mine to play in the Premier League,” adds Maatsen. “(Aston Villa) is a great opportunity.
“I also noticed in the conversations with the coach, Unai Emery, (we would be playing) attacking football with me as a left-back on the inside or outside.
“I already feel at home in Birmingham, completely.”
Unai Emery chasing Champions League qualification again
Maatsen will have to oust the in-form Lucas Digne if he is to do like Onana and make himself indispensable in Emery’s first XI, however.
Aston Villa sent Alex Moreno to Nottingham Forest late in the window after the Spaniard slipped to third choice in Villa’s left-back pecking order.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright, meanwhile, is backing Villa to secure Champions League qualification for a second straight season, partly due to the strength of their summer business.
“We can’t not have Villa in the top four,” Wright tells The Overlap on YouTube. “Not the way he (Emery) is moving and the signings that he has made. You can’t not have Villa!
“They have made a couple of really good signings. They have got a goalscorer. Good midfielders. Onana has gone there. Maatsen at left-back. Ezri Konsa at the back.
“Their whole spine is brilliant.”
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