Aston Villa midfielder Amadou Onana is expected to miss at least nine months after undergoing surgery on the anterior cruciate ligament tear he suffered while representing Belgium at the 2026 World Cup. The 24-year-old went under the knife on Tuesday at Lyon’s Jean-Mermoz clinic, where renowned French surgeon Dr. Bertrand Sonnery-Cottet performed the operation on his right knee.
The injury occurred during Belgium’s 4-1 victory over the USA in the last-16 round at Seattle’s Lumen Field. Onana sustained the damage during the match as the Red Devils secured their progression to the World Cup quarter-finals, though the midfielder was forced to end his tournament participation prematurely.
Recovery Timeline
Medical assessments indicate Onana could target a return to competitive action around April 2027. The projected nine-month layoff effectively rules him out for the remainder of the current calendar year and places his comeback towards the conclusion of the 2026-27 season. Such injuries typically demand extensive rehabilitation before a player can resume full training and match intensity.
Impact on Aston Villa
The absence represents a significant setback for manager Unai Emery. Onana established himself as a key figure following his arrival at the Birmingham-based club, featuring 38 times across all competitions last season. His physical presence and defensive contributions in the centre of midfield proved integral to Villa’s tactical structure.
Emery must now reorganise his resources to cover the loss of the Belgium international during the opening months of the campaign. While the club continues its domestic and European pursuits, Onana will focus entirely on his recovery programme in France before attempting to regain match fitness next year.
Belgium advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals following their victory over the USA, though they must proceed without Onana’s services for the remainder of the tournament.