The latest Aston Villa transfer news is directly linked to the unfortunate injury suffered by Boubacar Kamara recently, as the club may now look to sign Club Brugge's Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika to provide a solid midfield option for Unai Emery. Football transfer journalist Sacha Tavolieri posted on X that Aston Villa have spoken with Club Brugge about signing Raphael Onyedika due to the long-term injury to Boubacar Kamara. However, he also added that Galatasaray remains the most likely destination for the player at this point.
Boubacar Kamara's devastating injury blow that might lead to Aston Villa's transfer of Raphael Onyedika
Aston Villa are anxiously waiting for news on Boubacar Kamara after the midfielder suffered a knee injury that could be more serious than first expected. The 26-year-old was forced off early during Villa’s FA Cup third-round victory over Tottenham following a challenge with João Palhinha. Initial hopes inside the club were that Kamara might only be sidelined for around three weeks, but manager Unai Emery has admitted the situation now looks more concerning.
In his press conference that took place before Villa’s Premier League clash with Everton, Emery confirmed that Kamara is undergoing specialist assessments to determine the full extent of the damage. The Spaniard revealed that the French international is visiting doctors and that a clearer picture should emerge in the coming days. Emery stressed that Kamara is definitely unavailable for the immediate future and could be facing a lengthy spell out, though the club are hoping the worst-case scenario can be avoided.
No matter how long Boubacar Kamara will be out for Aston Villa, the club's fans would undoubtedly be hoping that their club end up signing a promising young midfielder like Raphael Onyedika who could be turned into a world-class star by Unai Emery.
Raphael Onyedika's Career so Far
Raphael Onyedika’s rise from street football in Nigeria to European competition has been built on talent and determination. He began playing informally before joining F.C. Ebedei’s academy at 15, where his potential quickly became clear. After three years of development, he moved to Denmark to join FC Midtjylland’s academy, a club closely linked with Ebedei, shortly after turning 18.
Onyedika impressed immediately in Midtjylland’s youth setup, shining in both the U19 League and the UEFA Youth League with his strength, pace and intelligent style of play. In July 2020 he was rewarded with his first professional contract, a five-year deal running to 2025. To gain senior experience, he was loaned to Danish First Division side FC Fredericia for the 2020–21 season, where he played 28 matches, scored three goals and earned a place in TV3 Sport’s Team of the Year.
He returned to Midtjylland in 2021 and was promoted to the first team, making his Superliga debut against Odense and playing the full match. In August 2022 he took the next step, signing a five-year contract with Belgian giants Club Brugge. Now 24, Onyedika has become a key figure in Belgium, featuring regularly in the league and Champions League. A Nigerian international with more than 20 caps and AFCON experience, he is widely viewed as a midfielder with the physical and technical qualities needed to thrive in the Premier League.
Will Aston Villa sign Raphael Onyedika?
As things stand, we will need confirmed information from top-tier football journalists like Fabrizio Romano or David Ornstein to see if Aston Villa are highly interested in the player. Aston Villa undoubtedly need to sign a midfielder this January Transfer Window, especially after missing out on Conor Gallagher to Tottenham and also due to their injury crisis in midfield. Whether the player Aston Villa ends up signing is Raphael Onyedika or not remains to be seen.
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