Quick Info
| Profession | Professional footballer |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Swiss |
| Date of Birth | 14/10/2005 |
| Age | 21 years |
| Birthplace | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
Latest News about Johan Manzambi
19/09/2026
Manzambi scored his first goal for Aston Villa in his first start, during a 3-2 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur. He had made his Villa debut a week earlier, on 12 September 2026, in a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest.
17/07/2026
Aston Villa signed Johan Manzambi from SC Freiburg in a club-record deal reported at about £59.5 million including add-ons. The move came after he had been a breakout star for Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, where he scored three goals, and Newcastle United had also been pursuing him. He chose Villa largely because of the Champions League football on offer.
Do you like Johan Manzambi?
You can vote only once.
77% like · 23% dislike
Bio/Wiki
| Summary | Swiss midfielder who came through the Servette academy in Geneva, developed at SC Freiburg, and joined Aston Villa in July 2026 in a club-record transfer. He has also been a regular for the Switzerland national team and was a breakout star at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. |
|---|
Physical Stats & More
| Height | 1.82 m |
|---|---|
| Weight | 167 lbs (approx. 76 kg) |
| Preferred Foot | Right |
| Position | Midfielder |
Personal Life
| Early Life | Born in Geneva to parents from Angola and the DR Congo. As a child, his father and older brother persuaded him to give up goalkeeping because they saw his talent as an outfield player. |
|---|
Family
| Father | Named in press coverage as an early influence on his football development |
|---|---|
| Brother | Named in press coverage as an early influence on his football development |
Career
| Youth | Joined the Servette academy in Geneva as a youth player; moved to the SC Freiburg youth system in January 2023 at age 17, initially playing for the U19s and U23s |
|---|---|
| Freiburg Reserves | Played for the reserve side in the German third tier from February 2024 |
| SC Freiburg | Made his Bundesliga debut as a substitute in a 3-0 away win at FC Heidenheim on 21 August 2024; became a regular starter in the 2025-26 season. Scored his first Bundesliga goal in April 2025 in a 2-1 away win at Borussia Mönchengladbach |
| Europa League 2025-26 | Key player in Freiburg's run to the UEFA Europa League final in 2026, where they finished runner-up to Aston Villa; named the competition's Young Player of the Season |
| Aston Villa | Transferred to Aston Villa in July 2026, reportedly for a club-record fee of about £59.5 million including add-ons; made his debut on 12 September 2026 and scored his first goal on 19 September 2026 |
| International | Represented Switzerland at under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels before making his senior debut in June 2025; has 16 senior caps and 6 goals, three of which came at the 2026 FIFA World Cup |
| Squad Number | 44 (Aston Villa) |
Style Quotient
| Playing Style | Describes himself as a box-to-box midfielder who can also play on the wing or as a playmaker |
|---|---|
| Traits | Advanced midfield role with a strong attacking contribution (goals, assists and chances created) |
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. He was a goalkeeper candidate in his early years until his father and brother advised him otherwise. | |
| 2. He moved to Germany at age 17 without having played in the Swiss league. | |
| 3. He scored three goals and provided two assists in four World Cup games before a knee injury in training ahead of the round-of-16 match against Colombia. |
