Aston Villa have completed the signing of Swiss forward Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, the club confirmed on Friday. The 20-year-old has agreed to terms with the Premier League side, though the length of the contract was not disclosed. The transfer fee is estimated to be around €60 million.
Manzambi arrived at Freiburg in 2023, making 58 appearances and scoring nine goals for the Bundesliga outfit. He had initially been linked with a move to Newcastle United, but ultimately opted to join Aston Villa.
He recently impressed for Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, registering three goals and two assists. His tournament was cut short, however, as he sustained a knee contusion that ruled him out of the round of 16 and quarter-final matches. Despite the injury, his performances established him as one of the competition’s breakout stars.
Interestingly, Manzambi will be joining the reigning Europa League champions, Aston Villa, who defeated his former club, Freiburg, 3-0 in the final. Freiburg represents the only professional club Manzambi has known to date. His arrival provides Villa manager Unai Emery with another attacking option as they prepare to compete in both the Premier League and European competitions.
Aston Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season, securing Champions League qualification. The addition of Manzambi is a statement of intent, signalling the club’s ambition to continue challenging at the highest level. The transfer provides Emery with a young, dynamic forward who has already demonstrated his potential on the international stage.
