Jul 30, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers (27) is congratulated after scoring a goal against St. Louis City in the first half at Energizer Park. Mandatory Credit: Joe Puetz-Imagn Images

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Aston Villa Close In on £30M Deal for Nice Striker Evann Guessand

Villa have operated cautiously this transfer window to comply with UEFA's profitability and sustainability regulations.

Aston Villa are set to secure their first major signing of the summer with the imminent arrival of Evann Guessand from Ligue 1 side Nice. The deal is reported to be worth £26 million plus £4.3 million in add-ons. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international is scheduled to undergo a medical on Wednesday, with personal terms expected to be finalized soon.

Guessand enjoyed a breakout season in France last term as he scored 12 goals in 32 league appearances. Notably, the striker was voted Nice’s Player of the Season as the club finished fourth in Ligue 1. While Guessand attracted interest from Crystal Palace, it is Aston Villa who won the race for his signature.

Guessand To Add Firepower to Villa Attack

Villa’s pursuit of Guessand comes after months of searching for additional firepower up front. Since Jhon Duran’s January move to Al-Nassr, the club has relied heavily on Ollie Watkins as their only senior centre-forward. Marcus Rashford briefly added to the attacking firepower during his loan spell last season but has since moved to Barcelona. Guessand’s arrival offers manager Unai Emery a dynamic and versatile attacking option.

The French-born forward is capable of playing across the front line. His international debut for Ivory Coast came in June 2024, and he has since earned nine caps, scoring his first international goal in March.

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Villa have operated cautiously this transfer window to comply with UEFA’s profitability and sustainability regulations. Guessand is Villa’s first big signing of the summer, following two earlier additions of youngster Yasin Ozcan and goalkeeper Marco Bizot. Villa finished sixth in the Premier League last season and earned a spot in the Europa League. Unai Emery’s men begin their 2025/26 campaign on Saturday, August 16 at home against Newcastle United.

Aston Villa

Evann Guessand

Nice

OGC Nice

Unai Emery

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.