Johan Manzambi went from Freiburg academy helper to Aston Villa signing in two years, and the people who worked with him before the move say the speed of the rise came from more than talent. Bernhard Weis recalled him bringing dirty clothes to the academy because he did not have a washing machine, while Massimo Lombardo pointed to the mentality that kept him trying to do something important in every session.

Villa paid more than £50m for him after a breakout season in Germany and 47 club starts. He signed a five-year deal, having made only his senior debut for SC Freiburg in 2024.

The coaches who saw the change first

Weis, who coached him at Freiburg's under-19s and then Freiburg II, said the physical side moved quickly once Manzambi filled out.

"The first half year at Freiburg it was not so easy for him, he's not so strong and he's not so stable. He put on five kilos and then he thought, 'now I go, it's the right moment, I will be faster and stronger'," Weis said in comments reported by BBC Sport.

Lombardo, the Servette academy director, was even more direct about the traits he thinks explain the jump. "For me, the difference he can make is because of his mentality, personality, enthusiasm and courage. He has the technical skills and tactical skills and the physical possibility now to perform in England," he said.

That lines up with what Freiburg saw before Villa arrived. Last season Manzambi was named the Europa League's Young Player of the Season and scored 12 goals in 61 appearances for Freiburg.

Villa already have an end product

The move also makes more sense when you look at what he has done since crossing over to England. Manzambi has already made 2 Premier League appearances for Villa, with 1 goal and 1 assist in 99 minutes.

His debut goal helped secure Villa's first Premier League win of the season, and his international output has been strong too. Switzerland have used him in 4 World Cup appearances, where he has delivered 3 goals and 2 assists in 209 minutes.

The club are not buying a blank canvas. They are paying for a player who has already shown he can influence games quickly, and the way former coaches talk about him suggests that is the point. Lombardo said Manzambi always wanted to do something important, and that habit now travels with him into Villa's five-year gamble.

FAQ

Why are former coaches so convinced Johan Manzambi can succeed at Aston Villa?

Bernhard Weis and Massimo Lombardo point to more than talent. They say Manzambi added five kilos, became faster and stronger, and kept looking to do something important in training and games. Lombardo also says his mentality, personality, enthusiasm and courage are what let him make a difference quickly.

How did Johan Manzambi go from academy helper to Aston Villa signing so quickly?

He was still helping at Freiburg's academy, bringing dirty clothes to be washed and taking younger players to the train station. He had only made his senior Freiburg debut in 2024, but after a breakout season in Germany and 47 club starts, Villa paid more than £50m and gave him a five-year deal.

What has Johan Manzambi already done for Aston Villa and Switzerland?

He scored on his full Villa debut to help secure Villa's first Premier League win of the season. For Switzerland, he scored three goals in four World Cup games before a knee injury ended the tournament, and his listed totals also include 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 World Cup appearances.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →