One-time UEFA Champions League winners Aston Villa have been linked with Super Eagles and Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika.
The 24-year-old was a part of the Nigeria team that sealed a bronze medal at the AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco. The former Midtjylland midfielder scored a brace against Uganda in the Super Eagles’ final group game, and was drafted into the starting lineup to replace Wilfred Ndidi in the semi-final fixture against Morocco, Nigeria’s only loss at the tournament.
Still, Onyedika’s abilities have caught the eye of Unai Emery’s side, although Galatasaray are keen on bringing the deep-lying playmaker to RAMS Park.
According to Sky Sports reporter Tavolieri, Villa have already made contact with Club Brugge over a potential deal for Imo-born midfielder. The seven-time English Premier League winners are looking to shore up a replacement for French midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who has been ruled out of action and is set for a long spell on the sidelines after a knee tissue problem.
While the severity of the injury is currently unknown, the club are still making further checks to ensure a cruciate ligament damage hasn’t occurred to the former Marseille midfielder for the second time.
Galatasaray initially made contact with Onyedika during the summer transfer window, and personal terms between the player and the club were already sorted, but a discrepancy in value between both sides stalled the deal, and eventually, both sides pulled the plug.
There is still interest from the player in moving to the Turkish side, but things could change now with Villa in the mix. The Villans are currently third in the EPL and could get a real shot at playing in the Champions League next season, a project that will definitely appeal to Onyedika.
The one-time UEFA Super Cup winners are also without Amadou Onana at the moment, alongside Kamara, meaning they are arguably missing their two main central midfielders.
