Aston Villa completes €35m signing of Ivory Coast striker Guessand

Aston Villa has agreed on a €30-35 million deal to sign Nice striker Evann Guessand, marking their first major signing of the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international, who scored 12-13 goals and provided eight assists in the 2024-25 Ligue 1 season, will travel to Birmingham for a medical before signing a five-year contract. Villa outcompeted several clubs including Crystal Palace, Leeds United, Wolves, and RB Leipzig, and convinced Guessand to join despite lucrative offers from Saudi Arabian side Neom. The forward's versatility, able to play as a central striker or on the right wing, and his international experience with Ivory Coast add to his appeal for manager Unai Emery. Villa sees Guessand as a fair investment, especially compared to higher valuations of other young players, aiming to strengthen their attacking options for the upcoming Premier League season. This signing follows a relatively quiet transfer window so far for Villa, who are building on their qualification for the Europa League.