Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL injury) during Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the United States (USMNT) in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 on Tuesday morning.
The 24-year-old Belgium international was forced off in the 21st minute of the knockout clash. He was later seen leaving the stadium on crutches and wearing a protective brace around his right knee.
In a touching moment during second-half stoppage time, Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku celebrated scoring his team’s fourth goal by holding up Onana’s number 24 shirt.
Amadou Onana Injury Update and Recovery Time
Medical examinations have officially confirmed the ACL tear. Consequently, Onana will miss the remainder of the FIFA World Cup. The Aston Villa midfielder is expected to be out of action for at least 8 months under the best-case scenario, ruling him out of the first half of the upcoming Premier League season.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa Transfer Plans Disrupted
This injury represents a devastating blow to Aston Villa manager Unai Emery. The Spanish tactician was planning to build his midfield trio around Onana, Boubacar Kamara, and Youri Tielemans. While Villa were not initially planning to recruit in that position during the summer transfer window, they must now urgently reassess their transfer strategy.
Onana joined Aston Villa from Everton in the summer of 2024 and has since made 72 appearances. He featured 38 times last season, playing a pivotal role as Villa won the UEFA Europa League and secured qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
