Aston Villa FC have completed the signing of Ivorian Forward Evann Guessand from OGC Nice on a permanent deal for a reported €30 million fee plus €5 million in add-ons. The Ivorian international put pen to paper over a five-year contract with the Premier League side, ending his career in Ligue 1. Villarreal was a strong admirer of Guessand, but Aston Villa emerged victorious for him.
The Ivorian forward was one of the best players in Ligue 1 last season, netting 12 goals and eight assists. He registered double figures in goals and assists across all competitions. Only five players recorded more goal involvements than him across the French top flight. He was unstoppable for Nice and fired them to a fourth-place finish.
Nice were undefeated in any game in which he registered a goal involvement, a testament to his clutch performances. His heroics earned him the Nice Player of the Season Award. He was touted as a candidate for a summer departure at Nice, and a promising move has now materialised to Villa Park.
“When I heard the club wanted me I didn’t think twice. I’m ready to give my all. Every game, every kick, every minute.” Guessand said.
He spent the 2022/2023 season on loan with Nantes and has since established himself as a mainstay in Nice’s starting XI and one of the best African players in Ligue 1. Achraf Hakimi, who beat him to the Marc-Vivien Foé Award for Ligue 1’s best African Player of the Year 2025, was the only African player who edged him slightly regarding overall performances in France last season.
Primarily a striker, Guessand is versatile, capable of playing across the frontline and at Number 10. A menacing predator within sight of the goal, Guessand is an aerial threat, skillful, and has excellent technical abilities. A complete package, he makes defensive interceptions from the front line and works his socks off for the team. He has earned comparisons to compatriot Didier Drogba for his skillset, power, technical abilities, and hard work. He still has a long way to go before being mentioned in a similar breath to the legendary striker.
A youth international for France, Guessand switched allegiance at the senior level and made his senior debut for the Ivory Coast National Team in June 2024. He has registered 10 appearances for The Elephants in that timeframe.
Unai Emery has an excellent track record with attackers, and the prospects of what he’ll do with Guessand are tantalising, at the very least. He is a welcome addition to Emery’s depleted frontline, which boasts Ollie Watkins as the sole centre forward. Aston Villa got the better end of the deal from Nice because getting a player of his calibre for €35 million is a bargain, a real coup. He will wear the Number 29 jersey at Aston Villa.
