Unai Emery namechecks £43m Newcastle United signing after Johan Manzambi snub
Newcastle United’s move for Johan Manzambi was hijacked by Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Unai Emery has revealed why Johan Manzambi snubbed a move to Newcastle United in favour of joining Aston Villa.
The Magpies had an agreement in place with both the player and his club, Freiburg, only for Villa to hijack the deal.
Manzambi starred for Switzerland at the World Cup before suffering a knee injury ahead of their last-16 tie against Algeria, which forced him to miss the start of the Premier League season.
We have launched a new NUFC YouTube channel to bring the latest Newcastle United news and analysis. Click this link and subscribe to NUFC Press Box.
The 21-year-old returned to fitness in September and has contributed either a goal or an assist in each of his four starts so far, including scoring the winner in Villa’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park on Saturday evening.
After the match, Emery was asked directly about Villa beating Newcastle to Manzambi’s signature and referenced Jacob Ramsey’s £43million move to Tyneside last year.
Ramsey joined Newcastle after they qualified for the Champions League ahead of Villa on the final day of the 2024-25 campaign. Emery’s side were left to compete in the Europa League instead, a competition they went on to win last season.
Newcastle aren’t in Europe this season, whereas Villa are back in the Champions League, which Emery admits was a key factor in Manzambi’s decision.
He said: "He [Johan Manzambi] joined us because he decided as well to be with us. Of course, we are playing Champions League, we are a team more being consistent. On the sports side, and of course economical side, he decided for us.
“He’s a good guy and he's very professional. He loves with passion, football. He wants to play in the way we are, with the demands we have.
“He decided to join us in summer because he understood here how he can progress, and that he can as well have his own challenges, and collective challenges, to improve in his career as a player.
“We had two years ago Jacob Ramsey with us, and Newcastle signed him. Of course, I appreciate and I would have liked to keep him with us, but it's football.”