Striker Jhon Duran has made a significant move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr from Aston Villa. The transfer could potentially be worth £71 million.
A 21-year-old Colombian player is set to join his new teammates, Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane, in Riyadh.
Aston Villa has officially announced the transfer of Jhon Duran to Al Nassr.
Aston Villa extends its best wishes to Jhon as he embarks on the next chapter of his professional career.
Duran remained on the bench during Villa’s 4-2 Champions League victory against Celtic on Wednesday, which secured their place in the tournament’s last 16.
Duran switched to Villa from Chicago Fire for £18 million in January 2023, yet speculation regarding his departure has persisted since last summer, particularly with West Ham expressing long-term interest.
This season, he has netted 12 goals in 29 matches for Villa, bringing his total to 20 goals in 78 appearances. It is noteworthy that only seven of those outings were as a starter in the league.
Duran’s exit has positioned Ollie Watkins as Villa’s sole primary striker, with the England international reportedly attracting interest from Arsenal this week.
Aston Villa, set to face Wolves in the Premier League this Saturday, are firmly committed to retaining Watkins and has no plans to let him go.
Boss Unai Emery stated on Wednesday, “I don’t want [to sell].” Receiving offers from other clubs is undoubtedly a positive development. The focus remains on achieving our sporting objectives with the current squad of players.
“All players may find themselves available for transfer if it benefits both their interests and those of the club.” In pursuit of this deal, we will be making firm demands. Watkins serves as our striker.
Aston Villa has secured the signing of forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund in the current transfer window. This move is primarily perceived as a response to the departure of Moussa Diaby, who transferred to Al-Ittihad earlier this summer.
