- Aston Villa are reportedly keeping tabs on Anderlecht teenager Nunzio Engwanda
- The 18 year-old could be available for a “bargain fee” in the summer
- He would be the latest youngster to join Villa’s growing academy
Aston Villa are reportedly weighing up a summer move for Anderlecht sensation Nunzio Engwanda, as Unai Emery continues to prioritise the recruitment of elite continental talent.
At just 18 years old, Engwanda is already a history-maker. He became the youngest player to ever feature in Belgian professional football when he debuted for Anderlecht’s second string at age 15.
Now a regular in the Challenger Pro League for RSCA Futures, the versatile defender is attracting serious attention from the Villa Park hierarchy
Engwanda’s contract runs until 2027, leaving the door open for a cut-price fee.
The Belgian youth international, who plays the majority of his games for Anderlecht Futures, made his debut for them when he was 15. He became the youngest player in the history of Belgian football to do so.
Shortly after, he signed his first professional contract on a three-year deal until 2026. However, his talent performances made Anderlecht extend it by another 12 months.
Who is Nunzio Engwanda?
Engwanda joined Anderlecht’s academy when he was just 6-years-old. He primarily plays as a centre-back, although he is capable of playing in midfield as well.
He has currently played 67 times for the Futures over three seasons. In the 2025/26 campaign, the defender has started 19 games, scoring one goal and registering an assist. They play in the second tier of Belgian football, and are in 15th place, one spot above the drop zone, but ten points clear.
The 18-year-old has already featured for the first team three times, all of which came last season.
Villa’s latest academy swoop
In the last couple of years, Villa have invested heavily in their academy, looking for extremely talented teenagers for two main reasons.
The obvious one is the idea that some of them can work their way into the first team squad. However, the second reason is the view that after a couple of years of developing, they can sell some youngsters for a larger fee than what they initially bought them for.
Villa’s constant battle with the current financial rules makes this the easiest way to gain a profit, rather than moving on senior players all the time.
Brian Madjo is the most recent signing, joining in January from Metz in a deal worth £10 million. Yeimar Mosquera moved from Columbian side Orsomarso in 2024. The Ivorian Mohamed Kone is another he was signed last year from ASEC Mimosas in Africa.
If Villa were to sign Engwanda, then he would be one of many that the Villans have tracked and identified from teams all around the globe.
Since their rapid rise towards the top of the Premier League, the monetary rewards that have come with it have enabled them to expand their recruitment network drastically, ensuring they can sign the most talented youngsters in the world.
