Jhon Duran has signed a new long-term contract with Aston Villa amidst a siege of interest from top European clubs.
Aston Villa announced the prolific Colombian forward has penned down a new deal, committing his future to the club until 2030.
Jhon Duran’s new Aston Villa contract sums up the tale of a drastic turnaround for a footballer.
The 20-year-old joined Aston Villa from Chicago Fire in 2023 and he has been improving rapidly since then.
Under Unai Emery’s Aston Villa setup, he could only manage just three Premier League starts in 16 months. More often than not, he was used as a substitute.
Regarded as one of the most promising South American attacking prospects, he struggled to settle for a bit-part role at the West Midlands outfit.
The 2023-24 season ended with no change in the situation. He wasn’t totally deprived of game time but couldn’t put up with the struggle to break into the Villains’ starting lineup.
Sources close to the club’s dressing room revealed Jhon Duran’s attitude given his endless role as a substitute was also a source of concern for the club’s hierarchy.
Things got worse at the end of the 2023-24 campaign and rumours surfaced that he is ready to leave the club in the just-concluded 2024 transfer window.
With his immense talent and prospects, other Premier League rivals were lining up for his services. Chelsea and West Ham United led the list of clubs interested in signing him. La Liga giants Barcelona were also in the queue for his services.
Jhon Duran, Unai Emery, and the Aston Villa problem
Jhon Duran himself was open to leaving the club to where he will be a starter, not a regular substitute but Aston Villa weren’t ready to let him go.
Unai Emery reportedly played a key role in convincing him to stay despite lack of game time. The Spaniard reiterated his faith in the youngster urging him to be patient as he grows into the team.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa needed to sell in the summer to avoid breaking Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules. Former Brazilian attacker Douglas Luiz was sold out to Juventus to this effect.
The departure of Douglas Luiz foreclosed any likelihood of Jhon Duran leaving the club.
Jhon Duran’s terrific start to the 2024-25 season
Jhon Duran has yet to break into Unai Emery’s starting lineup in Aston Villa but has already cemented his place as one of the most influential players in the squad.
Just seven matches into the season, he has proved his mettle with an unrivalled goal-scoring prowess.
We reported earlier that Duran has the highest goal rates per minute in the Premier League this season. Out of his seven appearances for Aston Villa, he has made only one start, coming off the bench in the remaining six. However, he has turned heads with his incredible goal-scoring prowess.
Coming on as a substitute, he scored against West Ham United, Leicester City and Everton in the Premier League, including the stunning winner against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
He has scored four Premier League goals and one in the Champions League – all as a substitute.
What is next for Jhon Duran after his new contract for Aston Villa?
Jhon Duran’s new six-year contract with Aston Villa has now doused all speculations of his imminent exit from the club.
According to reports, Aston Villa initially wanted to part ways with the player for £40m as pressure over Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules mounted. However, they made a U-turn after selling out Douglas Luiz to Juventus for £50m.
Meanwhile, the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea, and West Ham United were still linked to the player. The new contract has summarily laid to rest the prospects of Duran leaving the Aston-based club.
Aston Villa now have two top young forwards to bank on – Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins. It is now left for the team to solve the problem of depleted game time for the Colombian.
He is expected to play a key role as the club continues pushing for a return to Europe in the Premier League, including staging a challenge for UEFA Champions League trophy.
