Aston Villa Seal £26m Deal for Nice Forward Evann Guessand

Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of Ivory Coast international Evann Guessand from Nice in a deal worth £26 million, with a further £4.3 million in potential add-ons, Sport360NG reports.

The 24-year-old striker enjoyed an outstanding campaign in Ligue 1 last season, netting 12 goals and earning the club’s Player of the Season award as Nice secured a fourth-place finish.

Born in France, Guessand will strengthen Unai Emery’s attacking options at Villa Park, where Ollie Watkins had been the only recognised centre-forward in the squad. Emery was keen to bolster his front line following the loan departures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio at the end of last term.

“When I heard Villa were interested, I didn’t hesitate,” Guessand said. “I’m ready to give everything, every game, every kick, every minute.”

His arrival marks Villa’s second senior signing of the summer after bringing in goalkeeper Marco Bizot from Brest. The club’s transfer activity has been shaped by the need to comply with Premier League and UEFA financial regulations, with UEFA issuing a £9.5 million fine earlier this summer for breaching squad cost ratio rules. An additional £12.9 million fine remains suspended, conditional on compliance over the next three years.

Versatile addition

Guessand’s adaptability could prove crucial for Emery. While he is capable of leading the line, only 10 of his 30 Ligue 1 starts last season came as a central striker. He also featured eight times on the right wing and nine times in a supporting forward role, contributing eight assists alongside his 12 goals, all from open play.

His creative and scoring output placed him among the top six players in France’s top flight for combined goals and assists. The nine-cap international also outperformed his expected-goals figures and offered a greater dribbling threat than both Watkins and Rashford.

In addition to his attacking qualities, Guessand brings defensive work rate, excelling in duels and ball recoveries high up the pitch, giving Emery another dynamic option as Villa prepare for the new campaign.