Amadou Onana alongside a circle inset of Unai Emery.
Credit: Imago
Samuel Fabre
Wed 12 November 2025 11:03, UK
Amadou Onana is now adding goals to his game after his brilliant effort against Bournemouth sent Aston Villa on their way to a 4-0 win at Villa Park.
Unai Emery has placed a lot more faith in his imposing midfielder this campaign, after he made 34 appearances in all competitions last season due to fitness issues.
Onana has emerged as a standout in 2025-26, and he could be on course to achieve what was expected of him when he signed for Aston Villa.
His impact in Villa’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth was monumental, and after scoring a fine long-range strike against the Cherries on Sunday, he has broken a goalscoring record of his own.
Amadou Onana looking frustrated playing for Aston Villa at Villa Park
Credit: Manh Tung – Breaking Media
Amadou Onana adds another dimension to his game
Onana joined Aston Villa in July 2024 for a fee of £50million from Everton.
Against Bournemouth, Onana sent a brilliant low strike past Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic from 20 yards out after Morgan Rogers cut the ball back to him.
He has now become a goalscoring threat for Villa, scoring more Premier League goals under Emery than he did in his entire time at Everton in 30 fewer games.
Stat Aston Villa Everton
Appearances 33 63
Goals 4 3
Onana’s Premier League stats
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In the Europa League, Onana’s role in Villa’s goal against Go Ahead Eagles was brilliant, picking out Jadon Sancho with a defence-splitting pass, whose cross fell to the path of Guessand to open the scoring.
Having only completed 83 per cent of his passes in the Premier League, Onana has now set a high standard for what he can bring to the side.
The Belgium international has adapted brilliantly to Emery’s style of play, and he has become a vital cog in the Spanish manager’s machine.
The best problem a manager can have is when he has several top quality options at his disposal.
Unai Emery given new dilemma as Youri Tielemans returns
Tielemans has been out with a calf injury after coming off in the 0-0 draw to Everton, but he returned to action in the 2-0 win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Tielemans has been an incredible signing for Villa since joining from Leicester in 2023, and has appeared in 105 matches under Emery.
The 28-year-old possesses composure that is irreplaceable in the midfield, and his return to the starting line-up will be a huge bonus for everyone involved at Villa.
This could pose a problem for Onana, with three unbelievable midfielders at the club and only two starting places.
With Onana in a rich vein of form and Kamara essentially undroppable, Emery must consider how to effectively reintegrate Tielemans into the starting lineup.
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