Breaking: Aston Villa confirm huge £65m striker transfer
Al-Nassr have completed the signing of Jhon Duran from Aston Villa in a deal worth around £65m plus add-ons.
The 21-year-old forward completed his medical on Thursday and will now start a new chapter in his career by playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo in Riyadh. Duran will receive a huge hike in his wages having penned a lucrative contract with the Saudi Pro League side.
He leaves Villa after scoring 12 goals this season despite only starting seven matches in all competitions. The Colombia international scored winners against West Ham, Leicester City and Everton to help Villa make a strong start to their league campaign, before bagging a memorable goal against Bayern Munich in the club's first home match in Europe's elite club competition for over 40 years.
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Duran joined Villa from Chicago Fire in January 2023 in a deal worth up to £18m and made a total of 78 appearances for the club, scoring 20 goals. He was left on the bench in Wednesday night's 4-2 win over Celtic and Unai Emery was asked about the forward after the match.
"The club is working and we have to be intelligent and competitive," Emery explained. "When we are developing players and increasing our objectives, getting it and playing in the Champions League, we are in the eyes of strong teams and leagues like Arabia.
"I can feel proud of it because they are improving and players are of interest to other clubs. As well, they are paying good money for us. Our objective is to keep the structure intelligently.
"Sometimes maybe we have to sell players, but as well change and replace them with good players as well. If he is leaving, it is good news for us because it is good money for us and we have developed the player in two years getting this offer. This is for the club, players and the team. Those three circumstances and minimum of two: the club and the team."
Emery added: "You know my opinion about him. He has fantastic potential. I was trying to get him with my advice for everything. I was so, so close with him, working with him in his development. The players have their ambitions and sometimes they are impatient.
"If he leaves it is because he wants to do another way in his career. I told you last week, I wanted him here. After West Ham I told you I want him here. But what does he want?"
