Aston Villa: Jonathan Kodjia joins Qatari side Al-Gharafa

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Jonathan Kodjia's only goals this season came in the Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Liverpool

Aston Villa's Ivory Coast striker Jonathan Kodjia has joined Qatar's Al-Gharafa on a two-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

Kodjia, who joined in 2016 for 拢11m, scored nine goals in Villa's promotion campaign, but has only played six times in the Premier League this season.

The 30-year-old striker would have been out of contract in the summer and had been linked with Nottingham Forest.

Later on Monday, Villa signed Genk forward Mbwana Samatta for 拢10m.

The club are looking light up front with record signing Wesley out for the season with a knee injury.

Also on Monday, Villa announced that reserve goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic had joined French Ligue 1 club Toulouse on loan until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old Croatia international had not made an appearance in any competition for Villa since February 2019.

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