The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored 12 goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France’s Ligue 1. The France-born attacker boosts Unai Emery’s striking options at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins the only recognised centre forward in the Spaniard’s squad.
Emery was eager to strengthen his attack in the wake of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio’s exits after the end of their loan stints at the close of last season. When I heard the club wanted me, I didn’t think twice,” Guessand remarked. I’m ready to give my all. Every game, every kick, every minute.”
Guessand’s signing is Villa’s second signing of the summer to their first team, after the capture of goalkeeper Marco Bizot from French side Brest. Villa’s transfer window during the summer has been affected by the club wanting to oblige Premier League and UEFA financial regulations.
The club had been fined by UEFA earlier this summer for violating the European governing body’s ratio of costs in relation to the squad. Villa were initially fined £9.5m, followed by an additional £12.9m fine dependent on future compliance within a three-year mandate.
Guessand is set to be an extremely adaptable signing who can assist in duplicating Rashford’s position within Emery’s team. Similar to Rashford, Guessand can play on both sides of the front line, as well as number 10. Just 10 of his 30 Ligue 1 appearances last season were as centre-forward, but he also started eight times on the right wing and nine as a support player.
As such, Guessand created eight assists to go with his 12 goals, both from open play, last season. Just five players contributed to more goals in the French top flight. The nine-cap Ivory Coast striker’s statistics are on a par with Watkins and Rashford, who had the second half of last term out on loan at Villa Park.
Guessand saw his tally of expected goals bettered by more than both Watkins and Rashford, but the main thing that differentiates him is that he is a far more successful dribbler, resulting in much more participation in terms of touches on the ball.
Depending on how he is employed, Nice’s player of the year can also provide more on the defensive side in terms of winning duels and recovering possession – especially in the third of the opposition – so he would be a very useful asset for the season ahead.
