BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — world cup Breaking star Johan Manzambi joined Champions League side Aston Villa on Friday in a record transfer deal for a Swiss player.
Manzambi had an offer to join Newcastle, but viral clip After Switzerland’s quarter-final loss to Kansas City last Saturday, the 20-year-old midfielder answered “yes” when asked if Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martínez’s current teammates would be going to Villa instead.
Villa did not disclose the length of the contract or the transfer fee paid to Freiburg. Manzambi played against Villa for the German club in the Europa League final In May. Villa won 3-0, ending a 30-year trophy drought. Manzambi was named Europa League Young Player of the Season.
According to British media, the fee was more than 50 million pounds (about $67 million), also a record for Villa.
The most expensive Swiss player to date was Manzambi’s World Cup captain Granit Xhaka, who Arsenal acquired from Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2016 for around 45 million euros (about $51 million).
Manzambi has three goals and two assists in four World Cup games. Injured my knee while training Ahead of the Round of 16 win against Colombia.
Manzambi entered the tournament as an impact option off the bench, but became a starter after coming on as a second-half substitute and scoring two goals. 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin used him in a more advanced and creative role than the defensive midfield position he primarily occupied at Freiburg.
Manzambi started with Servette in his hometown of Geneva and never played in the Swiss league before moving to Freiburg at the age of 17. Swiss daily Tribune de Genève reported that Serbet did not negotiate a sale clause that would have given him a larger share of future transfer fees.
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