Aston Villa: Jonathan Kodjia joins Qatari side Al-Gharafa

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 £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 £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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