Johan Manzambi became Aston Villa’s club-record signing when he arrived from SC Freiburg for a reported £59.5m in July 2026, with Newcastle among the clubs he turned down. A Swiss international capable of operating as an attacking midfielder or wide forward, Manzambi broke out at the 2026 World Cup, where his displays for Switzerland turned a promising Bundesliga talent into one of Europe’s most sought-after young players. Villa did not disclose the length of his contract when confirming the deal on 17 July 2026.