Al-Hilal are reported to be interested in a big money move for Aston Villa star, and former Everton central midfielder, Amadou Onana
Amadou Onana celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on January 10, 2025
(Image: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Everton could be in line for a financial boost following Aston Villa’s final day failure to qualify for the Champions League.
The Midlands side’s transfer window has taken on a different outlook after missing out on Europe’s premier competition and they may have to contemplate sales should they wish to strengthen while staying within the limits of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Against that backdrop, Villa may be willing to countenance reported interest in former Everton midfielder Amadou Onana, said to be a target for Saudi Arabia club Al-Hilal. Everton had a sell-on fee included as part of Onana’s sale 12 months ago.
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Whether Villa would be willing to lose Onana is unclear, but the club’s summer will be impacted by their sixth-placed finish.
Unai Emery’s side lost at Manchester United on the last day, allowing Newcastle United to pip them for the top five even though they were defeated at home to the Blues.
The financial implications are significant and will re-shape Villa’s approach to the transfer market. That could lead to them exploiting the interest in Onana, who enjoyed a positive first season at Villa Park.
Villa have shown a willingness to find pragmatic solutions to PSR issues over the past year, and engaged in early business with Everton last summer that had benefits for both clubs as Lewis Dobbin was sold to the Birmingham outfit and Tim Iroegbunam moved the other way. The deals helped the clubs meet their PSR obligations ahead of the June 30 fiscal deadline.
The sale of Onana to Villa for a fee of around £50m weeks later then enabled both sides to claim the deal was a success, with Villa gaining a highly-rated Belgium international for a reasonable price and Everton receiving a transfer fee that allowed them to guard against interest in Jarrad Branthwaite, who was more important to then boss Sean Dyche’s plans.
As part of those negotiations, a sell-on clause was inserted into the deal that means Everton will get 10% of any profit Villa make on his sale, should it go ahead.
That could be a possibility with Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri reporting Al-Hilal are exploring a potential move for the 23-year-old.