
Marvelous Nakamba has ensured that we all have a marvellous day as he becomes the latest signing at Aston Villa.
Follow the writer on Twitter: @findfoy
______
Zimbabwean international midfielder Marvelous Nakamba has been announced as the latest arrival into Dean Smith’s newly assembled vast array of footballers at his disposal.
For what seems like weeks, the former Club Brugge man has been linked with a move away from the Jupiler League. In fact, the Nakamba links have been around since the club first announced that they had reached an agreement with Brugge for towering forward Wesley Moraes.
Since then, Marvelous Nakamba has played within the African Cup of Nations, become an Aston Villa Twitter sensation and the subject of the #FreeMarvelous movement and hashtag and gone on strike at his former club to force through a deal that would see him play in the Premier League under Dean Smith.
The deal is thought to be worth around €12,000,000 – just shy of the €13,000,000 that Club Brugge were holding out for, as Nakamba looks set to fight it out with another new arrival, Douglas Luiz, for the Defensive Midfield berth. This will allow Conor Hourihane to move into his more preferred role of centre-midfield, albeit as a likely rotation option. The Irishman is still expected to start at Defensive Midfield against Tottenham Hotspur, however.
The 24-year-old midfielder has experience playing alongside Wesley Moras recently but has also played alongside defensive signing Bjorn Engels during the Belgian defender’s time at Club Brugge. This should provide an easier bedding in period for all three players.
With experience across three countries in Europe, playing in Belgium, the Netherlands and France, Marvelous joins Aston Villa as his fourth club in five years.