Newcastle United top transfer target Johan Manzambi is set to join Aston Villa.
Newcastle United have been gazumped in the transfer market once again after agreeing a deal with Freiburg to sign Johan Manzambi.
The Magpies were thought to be in pole position to sign the midfielder as he impressed at the World Cup with Switzerland.
Manzambi is set to be formally announced as an Aston Villa player, with his medical planned this week. And a controversial sponsorship agreement announced by the club has led to some social media speculation over the deal.
Aston Villa confirm new sponsor
Villa have just announced a £20million per-season deal with Visit Rwanda as a new front-of-shirt sponsor.
Francesco Calvo and Rwanda Convention Bureau CEO, Janet Karemeraplaceholder image
Francesco Calvo and Rwanda Convention Bureau CEO, Janet Karemera | Aston Villa FC
Visit Rwanda sponsorships in Europe have brought with them accusations of sportswashing after United Nations reports found that the Rwandan government were linked to the M23 armed group operating in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A United Nations Report in 2025 stated that it had received ‘first-hand accounts indicating that at least 319 civilians were killed by M23 fighters, aided by members of the Rwanda Defence Force’.
It just so happens that Manzambi’s father is from DR Congo. While there has been no indication that the new sponsor would be enough to scupper Manzambi’s move to Villa Park, it will undoubtedly cause some ethical discomfort for the player.
But suggestions of Newcastle resurrecting a deal for Manzambi have been played down. The club have moved on from the situation and their transfer stance has already been made clear by head coach Eddie Howe.
Eddie Howe’s NUFC transfer ‘non-negotiable’
Howe has long maintained that the one quality he cannot compromise on in recruitment is a player's desire to join the football club.
The Newcastle head coach previously spoke about his biggest ‘non-negotiable’ when it comes to signing players. And Manzambi has already shown that he is not committed to joining Newcastle.
A U-turn from the player now would be out of convenience rather than a genuine desire.
“The big thing for me is they have to want to come and play for this great football club,” Howe said back in May. “That's number one.
“And in my experience, if the player has any doubt and isn't totally sure this is the right place for them, it doesn't work.
“If I look back at the most successful signings we've had here, every player has been desperate to come and put that black and white shirt on. So I think take apart all the other things. That is number one for me.”
As reported by NewcastleWorld, sources at Newcastle never felt convinced that Manzambi wanted to join the club and suspected they would miss out on the player from an early stage despite progressing with negotiations. They have already moved on and are looking at alternative targets.
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