LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 16: Mbwana Samatta of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Aston Villa at Goodison Park on July 16, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images,)
Aston Villa striker Mbwana Samatta has joined Turkish side Fenerbahce on an initial loan deal until the end of the season. Fenerbahce also said they had agreed on a four-year deal with the 27-year-old Tanzania international, to be signed at the end of the loan. Samatta who is the first and only Tanzanian footballer to play in the English Premier League joined Villa in January from Belgian side Genk.
According to the player, he said: “I thank Villa for giving me the opportunity to fulfil my dream of playing in the Premier League.” He scored on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth and also in the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City in March.
But those were his only two goals for the club and he struggled for form when the Premier League restarted in June. Samatta was not named in the squad for Villa’s first Premier League match of the season, a 1-0 win over Sheffield United.