Amadou Onana explains difference between Aston Villa and Everton as Arsenal point made

Amadou Onana has taken no time to settle at Aston Villa on and off the pitch after his £50m transfer from Everton in July.

The 23-year-old midfielder has scored two goals in his first three games for the club, both coming from set-pieces to break the deadlock in away wins at West Ham and Leicester City.

"I wanted to start well," Onana told HLN. "It gave me a strange feeling. With my first touch of the ball, you know! I wanted to show the club right away: you got me for a lot of money and I'm worth it. I think I'm worth €60m. I just believe very strongly in my qualities and what I can bring to this team. In my head that amount is not a problem."

Onana made over 70 appearances for Everton in all competitions in the two seasons he spent at Goodison Park after joining from Ligue 1 side Lille in the summer of 2022. He started 23 Premier League games under Sean Dyche last season, including only three in the Blues' final eight matches, and feels like Emery's style of football is more suited to his qualities.

"This is just a different style of football," Onana said when asked to explain the difference between playing for Villa and Everton. "We have to be at the club at 9:30am. Training starts at 11am. We train for a long time. Unai Emery is a real tactical freak. That can make training sessions take a long time, but I prefer it that way.

"Here we play more on possession. You usually stay on the ball a lot longer. Sean Dyche wanted to see more direct football. Long balls. A lot of second balls. In the national team we also play a bit more on possession and I get the ball more. Suits me a little bit better."

Onana added: "It's the fourth in the Premier League. With a top coach. With top players. It is a top club. I am where I need to be, I think. I used the European Championship well to be able to take this step. I performed well there."

Villa broke their transfer record to land Onana in the summer and he was one of seven new recruits. Despite Lewis Dobbin, Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior all leaving on loan, Emery will have more options once Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings return to the squad shortly, while Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey are also over their respective injury problems.

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Villa will face Bayern Munich, Juventus, Celtic and Bologna at home in the Champions League and face trips to RB Leipzig, Club Brugge, Young Boys and Monaco.

"It's definitely going to go fast, it's a busier schedule with that Champions League," Onana added. "But the club has already had a successful transfer window with new, good players. If you look at our bench, you almost see a second first team, don't you? I'm not worried.

"I think competition is really healthy. In a top club you need two really good players in every position. Manchester City and Arsenal have that. We do too now."