Jhon Duran, a forward for Aston Villa, is scheduled to have a medical in London on Thursday before a potential permanent move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Ollie Watkins’ intentions are derailed, and Jhon Duran is scheduled to undergo a medical at Al-Nassr before his historic €77 million transfer from Aston Villa to Arsenal.
The Colombian striker is scheduled for a physical before making a high-profile transfer to Al-Nassr, while Jhon Duran is on his way to the Saudi Pro League.
For the 21-year-old Colombian international, Villa and its Saudi Pro League (SPL) rivals have signed a preliminary agreement of €77 million (£64.5 million) with add-ons.
Duran already has a five-and-a-half-year contract with Al Nassr under personal terms. They will no longer be pursuing Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface if the trade is finalised.
What happened?
With star striker Ollie Watkins also making an impression up top, Duran has struggled to maintain a starting position after his blazing start to the 2024–25 season.
Al-Nassr, a Saudi team, is willing to pay an incredible €77 million (£64.5 million/$80 million) plus add-ons for the 21-year-old Colombian international, despite his lack of playing time. The Athletic reports that Duran will finish a medical in London on Thursday in preparation for a possible transfer.
Arsenal is interested in fellow striker Ollie Watkins, but Villa sees the England international as a key component of their strategy. On Monday, Arsenal made a bid for Watkins, but it was promptly rejected.
In October, Duran agreed to a new deal with Villa through 2030 after the season got off to a great start.
However, West Ham United returned with a £57 million offer for the 21-year-old earlier this month after failing to buy Duran in the summer, and Villa refused it.
Only seven of Duran’s 29 games for Villa this season have been as starters, but he has scored 12 goals overall.
Duran has scored 20 goals in 78 Premier League games since joining Villa from the Chicago Fire in January 2023 for a reported sum of up to £17.75 million.
After finishing second the previous season, Stefano Pioli’s Al Nassr are now in fourth place in the Saudi Pro League, eight points behind champions Al Hilal and second-place Al Ittihad. Former European players Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, and Cristiano Ronaldo are in their squad.
Many will be disappointed to see Duran leave elite European football for a piece of Saudi money, considering his obvious talent and demonstrated ability to score goals in the Premier League.
However, Villa’s young star appears intent on accepting a lucrative five-and-a-half-year contract that would allow him to join Al-Nassr’s elite international players, like Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Duran has made 20 Premier League appearances this season, 16 of which have been off the bench. This statistic adds even more significance to his seven league goals.
With three goals in seven Champions League games and 12 goals in 55 Premier League games overall, the 21-year-old has helped propel Villa into the knockout stages.
Future Plans For Villa
Arsenal, who have been vying for Villa’s top striker Watkins this summer window, will be hurt by Duran’s decision to Saudi Arabia.
It’s now very improbable that the Gunners would obtain their top target because Emery has been hesitant to sell their star player and his understudy left.