Johan Manzambi says he’s happy with his move to Aston Villa amid interest from several other clubs, including Newcastle United.
The Switzerland international came up through the ranks of SC Freiburg’s youth system and spent two years with their first team.
Last season, he operated mainly as an attacking midfielder and in the middle of the pitch, managing seven goals and nine assists.
His performances caught the attention of Newcastle United while Aston Villa won the battle in the end. Eddie Howe was in charge when the Magpies made a strong push to sign him.
On July 17th, Manzambi snubbed the Tyneside club and others and completed his move to Villa Park.
Newcastle United agreed before Aston Villa move
Prior to his sale to Europa League winners, the Magpies made advances. On July 9th, Sport Witness covered a report from Germany explaining that Newcastle United agreed a €60m deal. However, there was no agreement in place with the player.
This allowed Unai Emery’s side to swoop in and secure his services for €70m. A few weeks prior to his move, Johan Manzambi suffered a knee injury while at the World Cup, forcing him to miss the key clashes against Colombia and Argentina.
However, that didn’t stop the Villans from spending big on the 20-year-old. He was on the sidelines for 67 days and only returned to the pitch earlier this month.
Manzambi made his Aston Villa debut in the league defeat to Nottingham Forest. Since then, he made two more appearances.
| Every Aston Villa signing 26/27 | Nationality | Previous Club | Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicolas Jackson | Senegal | Chelsea | £65m | |
| Johan Manzambi | Switzerland | Freiburg | £59.5m | |
| Ibrahim Mbaye | Senegal | PSG | £47m | |
| Joao Gomes | Brazil | Wolves | £38m | |
| Zion Suzuki | Japan | Parma | £30m | |
| Taylor Harwood-Bellis | England | Southampton | £29m | |
| Matteo Ruggeri | Italy | Atletico Madrid | £17m | |
| Modou Keba Cisse | Senegal | LASK | £4.3m | |
| Leon Goretzka | Germany | Bayern Munich | Free | |
| Alejandro Garnacho | Argentina | Chelsea | Loan | |
| Aaron Wan-Bissaka | DR Congo | West Ham | Loan |
Didn’t seem to consider Newcastle United
He’s now with the national and has been speaking to the Swiss media, with 20 Minuten relaying his comments.
The outlet points out that Johan Manzambi’s move to Aston Villa meant Newcastle United and other clubs missed out.
On his arrival at Villa Park, he said: “The plan worked out, I was happy with it. There are always a lot of rumours when you transfer, but you have to be careful what you believe.”
This indicates he didn’t consider the Tyneside club. Last weekend, the player made his first start for the Villans and scored in the 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
“That goal was a dream come true,” Manzambi explained.
On his celebration, he added: “Many did indeed think of Dragon Ball, but that’s not the case. For now, that will remain a secret between me and my friends. Maybe I’ll reveal it in a few years.”
His immediate focus will be on Switzerland’s UEFA Nations League matches against North Macedonia [twice], Scotland and Slovenia during this international break.
Switzerland squad for current break
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Marvin Keller, Gregor Kobel, Yvon Mvogo |
| Defenders | Manuel Akanji, Zachary Athekame, Adrian Bajrami, Sascha Britschgi, Eray Cömert, Nico Elvedi, Ricardo Rodriguez, Isaac Schmidt |
| Midfielders and forwards | Michel Aebischer, Zeki Amdouni, Winsley Boteli, Breel Embolo, Remo Freuler, Cedric Itten, Ardon Jashari, Johan Manzambi, Joël Monteiro, Dan Ndoye, Fabian Rieder, Alvyn Sanches, Vincent Sierro, Djibril Sow |
🇯🇵 Zion Suzuki | Aston Villa star struggles with rib injury – Out of NT group training https://t.co/SNM6wYE45X #avfc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 23, 2026
