Midfield crisis looms for Aston Villa after Onana's World Cup injury

Aston Villa’s midfield crisis erupted when Amadou Onana suffered an ACL rupture in the World Cup Round of 16, being withdrawn after just 21 minutes of Belgium’s 4‑1 win over the United States – the decisive Onana World Cup injury that now threatens the club’s plans.

Aston Villa had planned to build their midfield around Onana, Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans after a strong 2025‑26 campaign. The trio was expected to provide the core of the side moving forward.

Onana made 38 appearances last season as Villa lifted the Europa League and secured Champions League qualification. Since joining from Everton in 2024, he has logged 72 appearances, becoming a key figure under Unai Emery.

Boubacar Kamara’s return from a posterior cruciate ligament injury is also delayed, with rehabilitation stalled since January. The France international has not featured since Villa’s FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur.

Belgium advanced to the World Cup quarter‑finals with a 4‑1 victory over the United States, where Romelu Lukaku held up Onana’s No. 24 shirt after scoring a stoppage‑time goal. The Belgian side now prepares to face Spain in the next round.

Villa will await further medical assessments before finalising Onana’s rehabilitation programme. The expectation is that he will be sidelined for many months as he begins the recovery process.