Aston Villa's striker Jhon Duran has completed a lucrative transfer to Saudi Pro League powerhouse Al-Nassr in a deal that could reach up to £71m. The 21-year-old Colombian forward is set to join forces with global soccer icons Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane in Riyadh.
The Premier League club confirmed the move in a brief statement, saying "Aston Villa can confirm that Jhon Duran has joined Al Nassr," while extending their best wishes for his future endeavors.
The transfer comes at a crucial moment for Villa, following their impressive 4-2 Champions League victory over Celtic on Wednesday that secured their place in the competition's last 16. Duran, who was an unused substitute in that match, leaves Villa Park after joining from Chicago Fire for £18m in January 2023.
Despite showing promise with 12 goals in 29 appearances this season and a total of 20 goals in 78 games for Villa, Duran's impact in the Premier League was limited, with only seven starts in league matches. The Colombian had previously attracted interest from other clubs, including West Ham, since last summer.
His departure creates a significant void in Villa's attacking options, leaving England international Ollie Watkins as the club's sole dedicated striker. This situation has become even more delicate following Arsenal's recent approach for Watkins, though Villa manager Unai Emery has firmly stated his intention to retain the forward.
"I don't want [to sell]," Emery declared on Wednesday. "It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad." The Spanish manager added, "Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker."
Villa has already taken steps to reinforce their squad during the transfer window, bringing in forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund. However, Malen is widely considered a replacement for Moussa Diaby, who departed for Saudi Arabia's Al-Ittihad earlier in the summer, rather than a direct replacement for Duran.
The Premier League side now faces the challenge of maintaining their impressive form this season, with their next test coming against Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday.
