One in, one out as Aston Villa seal move for Champions League striker


Aston Villa have completed a move for striker Mbwana Samatta from Genk, the club confirmed on Monday evening.

The 27-year-old will become the first ever Tanzanian to play in the Premier League following a move reported to be in the region of 10m euros (around £8.5m).

Samatta ended last season as the Belgian Pro League's top scorer, with 20 goals. That's double the number Villa's record signing Wesley managed in the same campaign at Club Bruges, with the Brazilian's season-ending cruciate ligament injury forcing the club into action this month.

Samatta is the latest forward to arrive at the Midlands outfit from Belgium, with Christian Benteke having also arrived from Genk in 2012.

 

 

He scored in three of six Champions League group stage appearances this season, including a bullet header against Liverpool at Anfield, with Villa remarkably yet to score a single headed goal in the league all season.

 

Dean Smith has been without a recognised senior striker for the last three games, with Jonathan Kodjia allowed to leave for Al Gharafa.

Smith said of Kodjia's departure, "He wasn't up to the standard, in my opinion. He hadn't got to the level of fitness that, for me, was required for the Premier League. That's the minimum standard to play Premier League football.”

Samatta won't be available for the crucial game against Watford on Tuesday night having not been registered in time to feature but will be set for a big debut in the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at Villa Park a week later.