Amadou Onana comments on Everton ‘type of football’ after Aston Villa transfer

The Belgium midfielder has spoken about his decision to leave the Blues and his European Championship displays

Amadou Onana in action for Belgium(Image: Jan Fromme – firo sportphoto/Getty Images)

Amadou Onana has spoken out in an honest interview after leaving Everton. And the Belgium international has hinted that the style of football played by the team last season prevented him from showcasing his best.

Onana’s £50 million move from the Blues to Villa Park was finalised on Monday, with Everton making around £20 million profit on the 22-year-old two years on from his arrival.

Although Onana has moved to a club that will be playing Champions League football next season, Everton’s strongest spell of the campaign came late on in the previous season when he was frequently on the bench. The Blues actually won seven of their 15 games in which the new Villa player started, compared to just six of the 23 when he was named in the XI.

Speaking to speaking to La Derniere Heure, relayed by Het Nieuwsblad (h/t Sport Witness), Onana suggested his performances at the European Championship helped push through a transfer to a club competing at a higher level.

“The European Championships have boosted my value,” he said. “I’m convinced of that. My performance at the European Championship was in balance with the player I am and the qualities I have.

“At Everton we often played a completely different type of football. I was able to show all my qualities at the European Championships. I was enjoying myself on the pitch, I think it showed.

“I was very confident that the European Championships would accelerate my future. Mentally I was fully ready to give the best of myself and I think I did my job well.”

Dyche settled on the midfield pairing of James Garner and Idriss Gueye late in the campaign and was rewarded with a stellar run.

The Blues beat Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Brentford in a week at Goodison Park, propelling the team clear of relegation trouble despite an eight-point deduction.

Onana’s departure will still leave a void in the squad though, especially given the Blues also lost Andre Gomes. Tim Iroegbunam will be hoping to impress Dyche after the 21-year-old joined Everton from Villa earlier in the summer, while Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a loan move from Manchester City.