Everton spent £33m to sign Amadou Onana from Lille back in August 2022.
The Belgian was among the most precocious talents in Europe at the time, and swiftly became one of the best midfielders in the Premier League after moving to Merseyside – later earning a £50m move to Aston Villa in July 2024.
Amadou Onana has now spoken to Sports Illustrated FC about his move to Everton – and why Frank Lampard shocked him during talks.
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Everton's predicted starting line-up against Chelsea.
Amadou Onana left gobsmacked after Frank Lampard phone call
The Belgian grew up watching Lampard take English football by storm at Chelsea, and has now revealed that he was left questioning reality after the 47-year-old attempted to sign him.
Onana said: “My sister was calling my phone – she’d been calling my phone a few times that day – when she told me, the gaffer wants to speak to you. So I’m thinking who’s the gaffer? And she goes, Frank Lampard.
“Obviously in my head, I already knew it was him, but I had to kind of double check. Do you know what I’m saying? It was like a, is this real kind of thing.
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“He’s a football legend. Do you know what I mean? Not a Premier League legend. He’s a football legend. Playing in the Prem was always a dream and he was the one that gave me the opportunity. He just had the flair, you know, he could smell it, where to be, what to do, so I learned a lot from him.”
Ultimately, the Everton job came too soon for Lampard.
The Londoner was eventually sacked in January 2023 with Everton 19th in the Premier League, but he is now proving his credentials as Coventry sit six points clear at the top of the Championship.
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There is arguably no better English manager outside of the Premier League right now 👀
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard.
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Lampard may even face Everton next season regardless of whether Coventry go up, as Crystal Palace express interest in hiring him as a replacement for Oliver Glasner.
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