Aston Villa have been dealt a significant blow, with Amadou Onana rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament at the World Cup.
The Belgium midfielder was forced off in the first half of Monday’s last-16 win over the United States, and is now facing an extended spell on the sidelines.
The severity became clear soon after. Onana was seen on crutches with a heavy brace on his right knee, casting a shadow over Belgium’s 4-1 victory in Seattle.
Scans have since confirmed the worst possible outcome. Belgium’s medical team broke the news in a statement.
“Unfortunately, the medical examinations have confirmed that Amadou has suffered a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament,” said team doctor Brahim Hacene.
Villa midfielder Onana suffers ACL injury at World Cup
“This is devastating news, both for him personally and for the team.” The doctor confirmed both club and country would work together on his recovery.
“We immediately consulted with Amadou and with Aston Villa to agree on the best approach to his recovery,” Hacene added.
“Throughout this process, we will continue to provide Amadou with our full support.”
The prognosis is a lengthy one. Ruptures of the ACL typically keep players out for between six and nine months, meaning Onana is likely to miss a substantial chunk of the coming campaign. It is a cruel end to what had been a fine individual tournament.
The timing is especially harsh for Unai Emery. Villa face a season of Champions League football after finishing fourth and winning the Europa League, and will now navigate much of it without one of their most trusted midfielders.
The injury compounds an existing problem, too. Villa are already without Boubacar Kamara, who has been sidelined since tearing a knee ligament in January, leaving Emery short of two key holding midfielders.
A return to the transfer market now looks likely. Having signed Onana from Everton for £50m in 2024, Villa may be forced to strengthen a midfield they had not prioritised this summer.
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