Aston Villa: Evann Guessand turned down a lucrative contract from Saudi Arabia

Transfers 06 August 2025 at 05:01

Joshua SOSSOU

News Editor

It's official for Evann Guessand! The Ivorian forward is set to join Aston Villa from OGC Nice, despite receiving a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia.

Evann Guessand will sign with Aston Villa in a deal valued at €35 million including bonuses. Before reaching an agreement with the English club, the Ivory Coast international turned down an opportunity to join Neom, who were also prepared to pay Nice a €35 million transfer fee.

According to revelations from L'Equipe on Wednesday, Evann Guessand rejected a blockbuster deal in Saudi Arabia: a four-year contract with a net annual salary of €8.6 million, totaling €34.4 million. By declining this offer, Guessand prioritized his sporting ambitions and a move to the Premier League, aiming to boost his chances of playing in the Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 World Cup with Côte d'Ivoire.