New Delhi: It is confirmed that the Belgian midfielder Amadou Onana will be joining Aston Villa after spending just two seasons at Everton. The toffees didn’t have the best 2023-24 season as their aim remained the same as the previous two campaigns, which was to survive the relegation battle. Everton managed to dodge yet another relegation after they somehow managed to finish 15th in the league, and one of their main contributors was Amadou Onana in their midfield. Onana established himself as an important figure for the Toffees as the Belgian midfielder played a crucial role in dictating the Everton midfield throughout the season.
Onana made 30 league appearances for the Toffees and was able to score two goals throughout the campaign. It might not look like the most impressive but he certainly had a key role in Everton’s fight for survival. His was solid in the central midfiled role, and often shifted back to play a much defensive role in his own half. His physicality and ability to make defensive contributions were largely appreciated by the Everton coach Sean Dyche. Onana also has a total of 17 caps for his national side Belgium.
🟣🔵 Official, confirmed. Aston Villa have signed Amadou Onana as new midfielder from Everton!
Deal signed for £50m fee plus add-ons and sell-on clause, while Onana has signed long-term contract. pic.twitter.com/vGeDPfMSvh
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 22, 2024
Amadou Onana, a midfielder from Belgium, joined Aston Villa from Everton on Monday for an alleged £50 million ($64 million). Villa, who were looking for a replacement for Douglas Luiz following the Brazilian’s departure to Juventus, agreed to a five-year deal with Onana.
Following their fourth-place Premier League result the previous season, Villa is looking forward to their first Champions League campaign since 1983 when he joins the team. With the addition of Ross Barkley from Luton, Ian Maatsen from Chelsea, Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior from Juventus, and certain other signings, Unai Emery looks like he is on a mission to produce yet another fantastic season for the Villains.
A message from Amadou! 🤳 pic.twitter.com/EvOIz2NpGe
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) July 22, 2024
Unai Emery’s tactical masterclass at Aston Villa
Amadou Onana can be a crucial part of Unai Emery’s system as the the former Arsenal and PSG coach used 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations in majority of the season. Although Premier League managers did not use the traditional 4-4-2 system much last season, three Spanish head coaches did favor it. Using this style on a regular basis, Unai Emery played an attacking midfielder up with Ollie Watkins in attack during his incredible season with Aston Villa.
This improved his team’s efficiency when pressing when out of possession, and his compact four-man midfield provided some additional coverage behind. Recently, it was the Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente, who also used the 4-2-3-1 formation in most of the Euro matches that Spain played and it helped the Spaniards play fluent football on the pitch as they lifted the Euro trophy.
WALSALL, ENGLAND – JULY 17: Unai Emery manager of Aston Villa gestures during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Walsall and Aston Villa at Poundland Bescot Stadium on July 17, 2024 in Walsall, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
As for Emery, it was a successful season with Aston Villa where he had his part to play, bringing developments in the playing style and the system. He was able to guide Aston Villa to a champions league spot after 42 long years, since the Villains last participated in the competition. It was a monumental achievement for the Spaniard after a previous unsuccessful premier league phase at Arsenal.
However, Unai Emery is expected to play the classic 4-4-2 formation which actually proved to be a great call for the Spaniard. Narrow four-man midfields have undoubtedly gained popularity over the past 12 months, whether their purpose is to establish more control in the midfield, strengthen the spine and fend off counterattacks, or a combination of the two.
How can Onana fit into the Villa system?
Amadou Onana is one of the traditional central midfield players who is more inclined towards fulfilling his defensive duties. The 22-year-old was heavily involved in Everton’s defensive play, as he proved out to be a tough player to beat in terms of aerial duels, as he won majority of his aerial battles down the midfield. His physicality is something that could help Aston Villa in the midfield as the Belgian’s towering 6’3 height gives him a physical advantage. Besides, Onana barely got dribbled past throughout the 2023-24 season with a 54% tackle success rate (as per premier league website).
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 11: Amadou Onana of Everton and Gustavo Hamer of Sheffield United during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Sheffield United at Goodison Park on May 11, 2024 in Liverpool, England.(Photo by James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
Unai Emery can utilise the Belgian in his classic 4-4-2 formation, playing him at the centre of the park. We can always expect a Belgian partnership between Onana and Youri Tielemans as they have already played together recently during the Euro campaign. Onana’s presence would benefit Tielemans to go forward and contribute more in Villa’s attacking play. Initially, Emery would expect Onana to sit back in his own half to cut our any sort of threat coming from the opposition and utilise his physical attributes to his best.
Onana’s physical attributes would give other attackers the assurity to press higher up the field while he does his part in his own half. At Everton, the Belgian midfielder didn’t quite make much of a difference going forward, but his defensive attributes were more than decent. Emey’s tactics would involve Onana fulfilling his defensive duties. However, if you are playing under Unai Emery, you are expectd to produce some sort of contribution going forward which suggests that Onana will be getting the freedom to go forward and display his playmaking ability to create chances or maybe get into a position of causing menace himself.
Amadou Onana’s ability to win aerial duels wouldn’t go unnoticed as he can be a massive threat from set pieces. The towering Belgian would be expected to move forward during set pieces to make the most out of every opportunity that is being provided to him. It won’t be surprising to see him cause problems for the opposition defence during set pieces for Aston Villa. However, it will be interesting to see how he performs at his new club and how he would develop under the experience of Unai Emery.
Aston Villa confirm the signing of Amadou Onana from Everton. Can the Belgian midfielder justify his pricetag and help Aston Villa repeat or even do better than their wonderful 2023-24 campaign? Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
