Aston Villa confirm signing of Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi

Aston Villa have officially completed the signing of highly rated midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, adding one of the Bundesliga’s brightest young talents to Unai Emery’s squad.

The 20-year-old joins for a fee of almost £59.5 million, with Villa winning the race for his signature ahead of Premier League rivals Newcastle United.

Manzambi arrives in Birmingham after a rapid rise in Germany. He moved to Freiburg from Servette Geneva in January 2023, initially featuring for the club’s U19 and U23 teams before forcing his way into the senior side. Since making his Bundesliga debut in September 2024, he has played 58 competitive matches for Freiburg, scoring nine goals and providing eleven assists, and was a key figure in their run to last season’s Europa League final.

The transfer is a landmark deal for Freiburg, with the total package reportedly close to 70 million euros, comfortably surpassing previous record sales such as Kevin Schade and Merlin Röhl. For Villa, who are Europa League holders and Champions League participants, Manzambi is seen as a long-term midfield cornerstone as they look to cement their place among Europe’s elite.