Aston Villa have enjoyed a very busy summer as Unai Emery prepares to lead the side into Champions League action this season.
The new Premier League season is just around the corner and Aston Villa are preparing for a big campaign.
Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season and have subsequently qualified for the Champions League.
Unai Emery has set about bolstering his squad this summer – but has been forced to let some players go too.
Douglas Luiz has been sold to Juventus after a strong season last term, but Juve talents Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea have joined Villa in exchange.
These exchange deals have been a feature of the window for Villa with Omari Kellyman moving to Chelsea and Ian Maatsen heading the other way.
Tim Iroegbunam completed a move to Everton but Lewis Dobbin arrived at Villa Park from the Toffees with the two youngsters trading places.
Villa have also brought back Jaden Philogene and Ross Barkley this summer, handing them returns to Villa Park.
Robbie Fowler on Amadou Onana
Villa’s biggest splash of the summer saw midfielder Amadou Onana arrive from Everton.
The Belgian midfielder has secured a £50million switch to Villa Park having shown potential as a box-to-box player at Everton.
Onana blew hot and cold at times but the potential is there – and he is delighted to have joined Villa.
It’s now over to Emery to try and get the best out of Onana on a consistent basis.
Pundit Robbie Fowler has now delivered his view on Onana having seen him swap Merseyside for the West Midlands.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror (28/07, p73), Fowler suggested that Onana’s exit probably hasn’t been met with tears at Goodison Park.
Fowler does still believe in Onana’s potential though, believing that he can grow into a Premier League star.
Former Liverpool striker Fowler noted that playing alongside Ross Barkley and learning under Unai Emery could see Onana ‘thrive’ at Villa Park.
“I don’t think he had the best of seasons at Everton and maybe not too many tears were shed by Evertonians when he left,” said Fowler. “But, at 22, he still has the potential to grow in the Premier League. And with someone alongside him like [Ross] Barkley – and Emery’s coaching ability – Onana could thrive at Villa,” he added.
Onana joined Everton from Lille back in 2022 with Frank Lampard the driving force behind his decision to make the move.
The giant midfielder felt that Lampard would be perfect for his development, but the pair ended up spending just over six months together.
“Honestly, I love the coach (Frank Lampard) and I could tell you a lot about him but he’s the man who convinced me to continue my adventure here [Everton],” said Onana.
Now ready for a new challenge with Villa, Onana will need to step up his game in the Champions League and if Emery can help him find consistency, Villa could have a star on their hands.
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