Aston Villa have completed the signing of midfielder Johan Manzambi from Freiburg for a club record fee of just over £50m.
The Switzerland international moves to Villa Park in a deal eclipsing the £50m Villa paid Everton for Amadou Onana two years ago.
Villa are also close to completing the £38m signing of Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes, who left the Championship club’s training camp in Portugal on Thursday to complete a medical.
Manzambi was on the verge of joining Newcastle last week after the Magpies agreed a deal with Freiburg, but Villa moved quickly and was his preferred destination.
The 20-year-old scored three goals for Switzerland as they reached the quarter finals of the World Cup before losing to Argentina.
He played against Villa for Freiburg in the Europa League final in Istanbul in May as Unai Emery’s side won 3-0 to end a 30-year trophy drought.
Manzambi was named Europa League Young Player of the Season and scored seven goals in 47 appearances in all competitions last term, as Freiburg finished seventh in the German Bundesliga.
He joins with Villa needing midfield reinforcements after selling Youri Tielemans to Manchester United for £35m as United triggered the Belgium international’s release clause.
Villa are also without Onana until next year after he suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup with Belgium.
Villa’s finances are tight as they look to comply with Uefa financial regulations and left-back Lucas Digne is close to rejoining Paris St-Germain.
