Aston Villa extends Amadou Onana’s contract to 2031 in show of faith during ACL recovery

Aston Villa have extended midfielder Amadou Onana’s contract through June 2031, adding two years to a deal that was previously set to expire in 2029. The move is a significant vote of confidence in a player who is currently sidelined with a torn ACL.

Onana, 25, suffered the injury during Belgium’s match against the USA at the 2026 World Cup in July. He’s expected to miss most or all of the 2026-27 season as a result.

Why Villa is betting on Onana’s future

The Belgian international arrived at Villa Park from Everton in July 2024 for a transfer fee of £50 million. That’s roughly €59-60 million, which made him one of the more expensive midfield acquisitions in the Premier League that summer.

Since then, he’s justified the price tag. Onana racked up 72 appearances for the Villans, scoring seven goals and establishing himself as a linchpin in the club’s midfield. More importantly, he played a pivotal role in Aston Villa’s Europa League title triumph during the 2025-26 season.

Reports indicate that Villa have been engaged in similar contract extension discussions with other key players, aiming to lock down the core group that delivered that European success.

The injury context

Villa have already moved to address his absence. The club signed midfielders Joao Gomes and Leon Goretzka during the summer 2026 transfer window.

Onana’s estimated transfer value currently sits between €34 million and €45 million. That’s a notable dip from what Villa paid for him, and the ACL injury is the obvious reason. By extending his contract now, Villa accomplish two things: they signal long-term commitment to a player navigating a difficult recovery, and they protect their investment by ensuring his deal doesn’t wind down to a point where other clubs could acquire him cheaply.

Onana’s career trajectory

Before landing at Villa Park, Onana’s career path included spells at Anderlecht in Belgium, Hamburger SV in Germany’s second division, Lille, and Everton before Villa splashed £50 million to sign him.

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