Amadou Onana is set to join Aston Villa in top form after his notable performances for Belgium at Euro 2024. Although Belgium had a mixed tournament, winning just one match, Onana’s individual contributions stood out.
Belgium’s only victory came against Ukraine, alongside a loss and a draw in Group E. Domenico Tedesco’s team finished third in their group and was subsequently eliminated by France in the round of 16.
Onana will soon undergo a medical with Villa after returning from his holiday, having agreed to personal terms on a five-year deal. His signing marks a significant move by Villa in the Premier League, with fans eager to see his impact following his strong showings in the Euros.
Despite Belgium’s overall struggles, Onana was included in L’Equipe’s Euro 2024 ‘team of the group stage’. He achieved a 90% pass completion rate across four matches, outperforming notable players such as Spain’s Pedri and Fabian Ruiz, Germany’s Joshua Kimmich, Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, England’s Jude Bellingham, and Portugal’s Joao Palhinha.
Of the 240 passes Onana attempted, 17 were progressive, with 16 reaching the final third. He successfully completed all his attempted take-ons and blocked six passes during the tournament.
Onana transferred to Everton from Lille in the summer of 2022 for an initial fee of £30m. His career began in various Belgian academies, including Anderlecht, RWS Bruxelles, and Zulte Waregem, before breaking through at Hamburger after moving from Hoffenheim.
At just 22 years old, Onana has already had a remarkable journey and speaks five languages, including fluent English. Reflecting on his career, he told The Athletic, “My family always encouraged me to work hard and believe in myself, which has brought me to where I am now. This is just the beginning. I’ve not achieved anything yet and have many more goals in football.”
Onana admired Ronaldinho growing up, appreciating his entertaining style of play. He balances his focus on football with other interests to avoid burnout, stating, “When I’m not happy, it shows on the pitch. So I try to stay relaxed and avoid unnecessary pressure.”
He added, “There are many experienced players in the league from whom I can learn a lot. You can never learn enough; there’s always room for improvement.”
