Juventus are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to a source familiar with the situation. The Brazilian international is expected to make the move to Turin for a transfer fee of approximately £43 million ($54m). Additionally, as part of the deal, Juventus duo Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea are set to make a switch to Aston Villa in a separate agreement valued at £18.6m. The source has indicated to ESPN that the negotiations are progressing well and are likely to be officially concluded by the end of the following week.
Despite initial discussions involving United States midfielder Weston McKennie, it appears that he will not be part of the transfer between Juventus and Aston Villa. McKennie, who was initially linked to the deal, will not be making the move as part of the exchange. This development comes as a surprise to many, given McKennie’s stature and reputation.
Aston Villa’s decision to part ways with Douglas Luiz may be influenced by financial constraints faced by the club. The Midlands side reported a significant loss of nearly £120m in March, prompting them to seek avenues to raise funds. Luiz, who joined Villa from Manchester City in 2019, played a crucial role in the team’s success last season, helping them secure a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and a spot in the Champions League.
In addition to the dealings involving Douglas Luiz, Villa have also reached agreements for Tim Iroegbunam to join Everton and for Omari Kellyman to move to Chelsea. On the Juventus side, Samuel Iling-Junior will be returning to England after a stint in Chelsea’s youth system before his move to Italy. The 20-year-old has represented England at the Under-21 level and has accumulated 45 appearances for Juventus since making his senior debut in 2022. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Enzo Barrenechea spent time on loan at Frosinone last season, indicating a willingness to gain more first-team experience.
The impending transfer involving Douglas Luiz highlights the bustling nature of the transfer market and the strategic movements made by clubs to strengthen their squads. As Juventus and Aston Villa finalize the deal, it signifies a significant chapter for all parties involved.