Lille's Amadou Onana in action against Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in last season's Champions League Round of 16. Reuters
Lille's Amadou Onana in action against Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in last season's Champions League Round of 16. Reuters
Lille's Amadou Onana in action against Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in last season's Champions League Round of 16. Reuters
Lille's Amadou Onana in action against Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta in last season's Champions League Round of 16. Reuters

Everton sign midfielder Amadou Onana for £33m from French club Lille


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Everton have signed Belgium international Amadou Onana from Lille for a fee reported to be in the region of £33 million ($40m).

The 20-year-old midfielder has agreed a five-year contract at Goodison Park and becomes the Toffees' fifth summer signing after James Tarkowski, Ruben Vinagre, Conor Coady and Dwight McNeil.

Speaking to evertontv, Onana said: "It feels great to join Everton. I know it's a big, big club, one of the biggest in England. It's something I want to be part of for many years.

"Everyone here showed they really wanted me and they have a plan for me, so I really appreciated the talks I had with the manager and director of football. They told me how they wanted me to play and I enjoyed it.

"They both have a lot of ambition and that's the type of guy I am so it matches."

Onana highlighted manager Frank Lampard as a key reason behind the move, saying: "He played at the highest level, won many things and was a midfielder, too.

"It means a lot to have interest from him and I think he can teach me many things."

Everton 0 Chelsea 1 - player ratings

  • EVERTON RATINGS: Jordan Pickford - 6. Relatively quiet evening for the England shot stopper. He had no chance with the penalty, and made a couple of routine stops from Chelsea set pieces. However, he also made a worrying spill in the build-up Raheem Sterling’s offside goal. AFP
    EVERTON RATINGS: Jordan Pickford - 6. Relatively quiet evening for the England shot stopper. He had no chance with the penalty, and made a couple of routine stops from Chelsea set pieces. However, he also made a worrying spill in the build-up Raheem Sterling’s offside goal. AFP
  • Nathan Patterson - 7. A positive evening’s work and a solid performance, in which he managed to keep Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic quiet. AP
    Nathan Patterson - 7. A positive evening’s work and a solid performance, in which he managed to keep Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic quiet. AP
  • Yerry Mina - 6. Responded to what was asked of him aerially and on the ground, and was particularly effective for the Toffees while defending set pieces. Found wanting a couple of times in the pace department against Sterling. Reuters
    Yerry Mina - 6. Responded to what was asked of him aerially and on the ground, and was particularly effective for the Toffees while defending set pieces. Found wanting a couple of times in the pace department against Sterling. Reuters
  • James Tarkowski - 8. Impressive debut for the former Claret, who added a bit of stability Everton have been crying out for in recent times. It was evident he can have a positive impact. Reuters
    James Tarkowski - 8. Impressive debut for the former Claret, who added a bit of stability Everton have been crying out for in recent times. It was evident he can have a positive impact. Reuters
  • Ben Godfrey - N/A. He picked up a possible long-term injury after a crunching recovery tackle on Kai Havertz following a poor back pass. Getty
    Ben Godfrey - N/A. He picked up a possible long-term injury after a crunching recovery tackle on Kai Havertz following a poor back pass. Getty
  • Vitalii Mykolenko - 7. A solid effort at LWB. He offered a threat on the overlap and linked well with Alex Iwobi, but was sometimes lacking with his final ball. AFP
    Vitalii Mykolenko - 7. A solid effort at LWB. He offered a threat on the overlap and linked well with Alex Iwobi, but was sometimes lacking with his final ball. AFP
  • Abdoulaye Doucoure - 5. Conceded the game-winning penalty with a lazy lunge on Ben Chilwell from behind, and ultimately found himself lost at times within the midfield battle against N’golo Kante. Getty
    Abdoulaye Doucoure - 5. Conceded the game-winning penalty with a lazy lunge on Ben Chilwell from behind, and ultimately found himself lost at times within the midfield battle against N’golo Kante. Getty
  • Alex Iwobi - 7. Energetic as ever from the Nigerian international. He made some nice driving runs from central midfield and offered a powerful dynamic to Everton's game. AP
    Alex Iwobi - 7. Energetic as ever from the Nigerian international. He made some nice driving runs from central midfield and offered a powerful dynamic to Everton's game. AP
  • Demarai Gray - 6. A quieter showing from the former Leicester man, who missed a key through ball to Anthony Gordon in a big moment on the counter attack at 0-0. AFP
    Demarai Gray - 6. A quieter showing from the former Leicester man, who missed a key through ball to Anthony Gordon in a big moment on the counter attack at 0-0. AFP
  • Dwight McNeil - 6. Struggled to maintain possession against a hardworking Chelsea outfit, and lacked the guile to influence things at the top end, leaving Anthony Gordon relatively isolated. EPA
    Dwight McNeil - 6. Struggled to maintain possession against a hardworking Chelsea outfit, and lacked the guile to influence things at the top end, leaving Anthony Gordon relatively isolated. EPA
  • Anthony Gordon - 6. His work-rate was second to none, but struggled physically, often conceding possession to Chelsea’s press. His only effort on goal was a half-chance header early in the first half. Getty
    Anthony Gordon - 6. His work-rate was second to none, but struggled physically, often conceding possession to Chelsea’s press. His only effort on goal was a half-chance header early in the first half. Getty
  • SUBS: Mason Holgate (Godfrey, 18) - 6. Slotted in nicely and offered a composed performance, winning the majority of his defensive duels. PA
    SUBS: Mason Holgate (Godfrey, 18) - 6. Slotted in nicely and offered a composed performance, winning the majority of his defensive duels. PA
  • Dele Alli (McNeil, 61) - 5. Another passenger-like performance for the former England regular. Alli’s only notable showing were some nice ball retentions to keep the side moving up the pitch. Getty
    Dele Alli (McNeil, 61) - 5. Another passenger-like performance for the former England regular. Alli’s only notable showing were some nice ball retentions to keep the side moving up the pitch. Getty
  • Ruben Vinagre (Mina, 70) - N/A. Made little impact at either end of the pitch. Getty
    Ruben Vinagre (Mina, 70) - N/A. Made little impact at either end of the pitch. Getty
  • CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 7. A clean sheet for the Senegalese shot stopper who, though rarely troubled by the Everton attack, produced a fine save to deny Tarkowski a debut opener. PA
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy - 7. A clean sheet for the Senegalese shot stopper who, though rarely troubled by the Everton attack, produced a fine save to deny Tarkowski a debut opener. PA
  • Reece James - 6. He wasn’t troubled defensively, but played some nice passes through the lines. He was booked on 56 minutes for time wasting from a throw-in. Reuters
    Reece James - 6. He wasn’t troubled defensively, but played some nice passes through the lines. He was booked on 56 minutes for time wasting from a throw-in. Reuters
  • Cesar Azpilicueta - 6. A composed performance after securing a two-year contract extension only days ago. AP
    Cesar Azpilicueta - 6. A composed performance after securing a two-year contract extension only days ago. AP
  • Thiago Silva - 8. Brazilian looked composed in possession and was as smart as ever out of it. He denied the hosts goal-scoring opportunity with a clean interception of Demarai Gray’s attempted through ball. Reuters
    Thiago Silva - 8. Brazilian looked composed in possession and was as smart as ever out of it. He denied the hosts goal-scoring opportunity with a clean interception of Demarai Gray’s attempted through ball. Reuters
  • Kalidou Koulibaly - 8. Began his English football career with an excellent performance, retaining possession well and putting in some clean tackles to recycle the visitors’ possession. He played a lovely pass into Chilwell to allow him to get in the box to win the penalty. AP
    Kalidou Koulibaly - 8. Began his English football career with an excellent performance, retaining possession well and putting in some clean tackles to recycle the visitors’ possession. He played a lovely pass into Chilwell to allow him to get in the box to win the penalty. AP
  • Ben Chilwell - 8. Won the decisive penalty after a bursting run into the box, and showed no signs of struggle after a long nine-month injury lay off. PA
    Ben Chilwell - 8. Won the decisive penalty after a bursting run into the box, and showed no signs of struggle after a long nine-month injury lay off. PA
  • Jorginho - 7. A tidy performance from the Italian midfielder, who kept things moving nicely and expertly dispatched the penalty in the decisive moment. AP
    Jorginho - 7. A tidy performance from the Italian midfielder, who kept things moving nicely and expertly dispatched the penalty in the decisive moment. AP
  • N’golo Kante - 7. The Frenchman buzzed around the pitch all evening. He made a couple of misplaced passes, but on the whole offered a really solid showing. Getty
    N’golo Kante - 7. The Frenchman buzzed around the pitch all evening. He made a couple of misplaced passes, but on the whole offered a really solid showing. Getty
  • Mason Mount - 6. Relatively quiet afternoon for Mount. While he enjoyed some nice link-up play with those around him, offered very little other than a well-hit strike straight down the throat of Pickford in the first half. Getty
    Mason Mount - 6. Relatively quiet afternoon for Mount. While he enjoyed some nice link-up play with those around him, offered very little other than a well-hit strike straight down the throat of Pickford in the first half. Getty
  • Raheem Sterling - 8. Bright debut for the former Manchester City man, who offered some lovely pieces of skill to beat his man. Unfortunate to not have a brace to his name after a disallowed goal and an effort expertly blocked by Mykolenko late in the second half. EPA
    Raheem Sterling - 8. Bright debut for the former Manchester City man, who offered some lovely pieces of skill to beat his man. Unfortunate to not have a brace to his name after a disallowed goal and an effort expertly blocked by Mykolenko late in the second half. EPA
  • Kai Havertz - 6. The German was quiet on the whole. He saw a smart header well saved by Pickford in what was his only effort of note. Reuters
    Kai Havertz - 6. The German was quiet on the whole. He saw a smart header well saved by Pickford in what was his only effort of note. Reuters
  • SUBS: Christian Pulisic (Mount, 65) - 5. Didn’t really impact the visitors going forward, and instead drifted out of the contest. Getty
    SUBS: Christian Pulisic (Mount, 65) - 5. Didn’t really impact the visitors going forward, and instead drifted out of the contest. Getty
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chilwell 65) - 6. Filled in nicely at wing-back and offered some nice moments on the overlap. AFP
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chilwell 65) - 6. Filled in nicely at wing-back and offered some nice moments on the overlap. AFP
  • Armando Broja (Havertz, 75) - N/A. Ran the channels well and held up play nicely, though had no real opportunities on goal. Reuters
    Armando Broja (Havertz, 75) - N/A. Ran the channels well and held up play nicely, though had no real opportunities on goal. Reuters
  • Marc Cucurella (Koulibaly, 75) - N/A. Nice moments offensively, including a nice cross back for Sterling to strike goalwards. Getty
    Marc Cucurella (Koulibaly, 75) - N/A. Nice moments offensively, including a nice cross back for Sterling to strike goalwards. Getty
  • Connor Gallagher (Jorginho, 97) - N/A. Competitive debut in blue for the former Crystal Palace loanee, who had little time to have any real impact on proceedings. Getty
    Connor Gallagher (Jorginho, 97) - N/A. Competitive debut in blue for the former Crystal Palace loanee, who had little time to have any real impact on proceedings. Getty

Born in Senegal, Onana played his youth football in Belgium before moving to Germany in 2018 and playing for Hoffenheim and Hamburg prior to his switch to Lille last summer.

He was at Goodison Park on Saturday to watch the 1-0 defeat by Chelsea after undergoing a medical earlier in the day.

Plans are also well advanced to bring midfielder Idrissa Gueye back to the club from Paris St Germain but the search for attacking recruits goes on.

Lampard said: "Amadou is a player we were really keen to bring to Everton. He has many great qualities to help strengthen our midfield and, at just 20 years old, has massive potential to get even better.

"I spoke to him about why Everton was the right club for him and we're all looking forward to him showing what he can bring to the team."

Updated: August 09, 2022, 2:22 PM