Aston Villa are in the process of finalising a move to sign midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg.Manzambi looked on course to join Newcastle United after a club-to-club agreement was reached, but the 20-year-old had yet to decide on his preferred destination.That enabled Villa to accelerate their existing interest, which was heightened by the loss of Amadou Onana to a knee ligament injury.They have since intensified efforts to strike a deal with their Bundesliga counterparts and the player, who favours a move to Villa Park.Manzambi excelled against Villa in May’s Europa League final and impressed for Switzerland in their run to the World Cup quarter-finals. He can operate in multiple positions and his arrival would boost Villa before their return to Champions League football next season.The finances have never been an issue for Newcastle but other suitors were always in contention, which produced caution at St James’ Park about the chances of landing him.Manzambi came through the academy of Swiss club Servette before joining the Freiburg youth set up. He has made 58 first-team appearances, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists.He made 47 appearances in the 2025-26 campaign, recording seven goals and nine assists as Freiburg finished seventh in the Bundesliga, and played a prominent role in their run to the Europa League final.At the World Cup this summer Manzambi scored twice after being introduced from the bench for the final 19 minutes of Switzerland’s 4-1 group-stage win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He scored again after starting the 2-1 win over co-hosts Canada in their final group game.A huge blow for NewcastleAnalysis from Newcastle United correspondent Chris WaughThere has been an understandable anxiety among the Newcastle fan-base when it comes to Manzambi, given how the club were gazumped by Liverpool for Victor Munoz last month (and by several clubs for multiple players last summer).Inside Newcastle, they have been cautious, if optimistic, that a deal for the Switzerland international could be concluded. But they have been aware of alternative options for Manzambi throughout and they were sober enough to the possibility that a rival may try and pip them to the deal.Newcastle have pushed hard, with the executive team holding face-to-face talks with Freiburg and also trying to convince the player, his camp and his family as to why St James’ Park is where his development would be best served.But Newcastle cannot offer Champions League football, or European football of any capacity, and that left them vulnerable again in these talks. It is not the club’s fault that a deal was not concluded sooner, as the player wanted to wait until Switzerland were eliminated from the World Cup before determining his future, which only occurred on Saturday.If Manzambi does opt for Villa over Newcastle, then it will be a huge blow to Eddie Howe’s transfer plans and it is unclear where the club will turn next, even if they have been considering alternatives in case this scenario unfolded.Jul 12, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms