Chelsea Set to Sign Aston Villa Striker Jhon Duran for £42 Million
Chelsea have reportedly reached a £42 million agreement to acquire Aston Villa’s striker, Jhon Duran, according to sources from Colombia.
The Blues have been searching for another centre-forward to compete with Nicolas Jackson, who, despite finishing the season with 17 goals, has faced criticism for his inconsistency.
Duran joined Aston Villa from MLS side Chicago Fire 17 months ago in an £18 million deal. However, the Colombian international has struggled to secure a regular starting role.
Limited Playing Time at Villa
This season, Duran started only three Premier League matches, with manager Unai Emery favoring Ollie Watkins as his main striker, alongside Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby in the attacking lineup.
Chelsea had previously shown interest in Duran during the January transfer window. According to Colombian journalist Guillermo Arango, the club has now finalized an agreement with Villa for a £42 million transfer fee and is currently negotiating contract terms with Duran.
Last month, Duran’s agent, Jonathan Herrera, hinted at the striker’s dissatisfaction with his limited playing time at Villa. Herrera told El VBar Caracol, “He is a player who has a contract with Aston Villa, he ended up doing very well and the coach is counting on him, it is a club that, having got into the Champions League is a great opportunity, but we know he wants to play, he wants to go out and play, we are going to see. Now the market is opening up, the club is looking at some options and so are we.”
Chelsea’s Interest Remains Strong
Discussing Chelsea’s interest, Herrera emphasized that Mauricio Pochettino’s departure would not impact the club’s transfer plans. He stated, “The interest has always been there. The fact that Pochettino continues or leaves the club [shouldn’t affect], the one who want him in the end is the club. He is a player that if they change coach or not, we will see what happens, but there has always been interest. Let’s see how we can handle it and make sure Aston Villa are ready.”
In other transfer news, Aston Villa is close to selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus. The Serie A club is set to pay a €20 million (£16.8m) transfer fee, with United States midfielder Weston McKennie and 20-year-old winger Samuel Iling-Junior included as part of the deal.
