Aston Villa Lead Chelsea in Race to Re-Sign Brazilian Midfielder Douglas Luiz
Aston Villa are currently in active negotiations to secure the return of Brazilian international midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to reports from transfer expert Fabrizio Romano. However, they face competition from Chelsea, who are also keen on acquiring the player before the January transfer window concludes.
Current Situation and Loan Details
The 27-year-old is currently on a season-long loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus, having moved to the City Ground in August. His time at Forest has been somewhat underwhelming, with just 14 appearances across all competitions, including only eight in the Premier League. This limited impact is partly attributed to hamstring issues that plagued him earlier in the campaign.
Despite his struggles at Forest, Luiz's reputation remains intact, attracting interest from both Villa and Chelsea. Sky Sports reports that the midfielder is eligible to switch loan clubs during this window. Furthermore, if a permanent transfer is agreed, it would cost Aston Villa significantly less than the £43 million they received from Juventus for his sale in 2024.
Villa's Motivation and Squad Needs
Aston Villa's pursuit is driven by midfield injuries, including a season-ending setback for Boubacar Kamara and an absence for John McGinn. Under manager Unai Emery, the team is performing strongly, sitting third in the Premier League and second in their Europa League group, positioning them for a potentially historic season.
Romano notes that while Villa are in ongoing talks with Juventus, they are also exploring other midfield options as a contingency. Chelsea, meanwhile, are interested in a loan deal to bolster their central midfield resources.
Luiz's Career Trajectory and Villa History
Douglas Luiz was a pivotal figure for Aston Villa from 2019 to 2024 after joining from Manchester City. He made 204 appearances for the club, scoring 22 goals, with his final season in 2023/24 seeing him feature 53 times and net 10 goals. His subsequent big-money move to Juventus in the summer of 2024 did not pan out as expected, leading to his loan return to the Premier League this season after 27 appearances for the Italian side.
Additional Transfer Activity at Villa Park
In related news, Aston Villa are also on the verge of re-signing another former player, striker Tammy Abraham. The England international has made his loan move to Besiktas from Roma permanent for just over £11 million, with Villa set to pay the Turkish club approximately £18 million for his services. Abraham, 28, has scored 13 goals in 26 games for Besiktas this season, following 10 goals on loan at AC Milan last term. He previously enjoyed a successful loan spell at Villa Park in the 2018/19 Championship season, netting 25 goals in 37 appearances.
