Jhon Duran transfer: Al Nassr confident of deal worth over £64m to sign Aston Villa striker

May Be Interested In:Steven Spielberg’s next movie, with Josh O’Connor and Emily Blunt, set for June 2026


Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has completed a medical with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr ahead of a £64m move.

The 21-year-old, who was an unused substitute in Villa’s 4-2 home win over Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday, will now fly to Saudi Arabia to join a side headed by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Duran’s move comes as it also emerged that Villa have rejected a bid from Arsenal for striker Ollie Watkins.

Al Nassr are understood to be paying just over £64m (€77m) plus bonuses for the striker and the deal is part of a new Saudi strategy to focuse on singing young, developing players. They do not want to be regarded as a retirement home for ageing superstars.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Speaking after Aston Villa’s draw with West Ham in the Premier League, Unai Emery confirmed he wants to keep Duran

Emery said of Duran in his post-match press conference: “The club is working, we have to be competitive, of course we are developing players and increasing our objective, increasing our target, playing Champions League.

“Of course, we in the eyes of another strong team, strong countries like Saudi Arabia. It is something as well I can feel proud of because [the players] are improving. We have players who are of interest to other clubs and paying good money to us.

“But of course our objective is to keep our structure on the sport side because we want to keep our level that we are at and to keep it for a long time is hard.

“[To answer the question], I don’t know exactly until everything is done.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Emery remained coy on whether strikers Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins could both head for the exit door at Villa Park

“If he is leaving it is because it is a good deal for us. Because we have developed a young player in two years. It is not only club, it [has to work for] club, player and team.

“I don’t know if he is going to leave.”

The Spaniard added: “With Jhon Duran, you know more or less everything we are speaking here. He is a fantastic young player, fantastic potential. I was so close with him, trying to work with him in his development.

“But the player has the objective, sometimes they are impassioned. If they are leaving it is because they are doing another way in their career.”

Questioned whether Duran has asked to leave the club, Emery replied: “If he is leaving, of course it is because he has agreed.

“I told you last week, I wanted him here. After West Ham, I told you I wanted him here. But what does he want?”

Earlier this month, West Ham had a £57m bid turned down for Duran.

Duran has scored seven Premier League goals in 20 appearances this season.

He moved to Villa Park from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023 but just seven of his 55 league appearances have come as a starter.

Al Nassr opt for Duran over Boniface

January 25 2025: Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen) looks on during a 1. Bundesliga game, RB Leipzig vs Bayer Leverkusen, at Red Bull Arena, Leipzig, Germany. Ulrik Pedersen/CSM (Credit Image: .. Cal Sport Media) (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
Image:
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface was an Al Nassr target

Sky Sports News reported on Wednesday morning that Al Nassr – the club Cristiano Ronaldo plays for – wanted to sign either Duran or Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

The Saudi Arabian club had held talks over both strikers but will only sign one of them, and it appears they have settled on Duran despite also agreeing a £46m (€55m) deal for Boniface, who had undergone a medical.

Sky in Germany reported on Wednesday night Boniface’s move to Al Nassr is off.

The 24-year-old was left out of Leverkusen’s squad on Wednesday for their 2-0 Champions League home win over Sparta Prague.

Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, said it is now unlikely that Bonifca leaves.

Rolfes said: “Boniface will train with the team again tomorrow. He is still a Bayer 04 player.

“The events have not led to him being sold. With certain sums of money, economic considerations naturally always play a role.

“The current situation is that he will most likely stay. We are happy about that.”

Villa reject Arsenal’s bid for Watkins

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Transfer Show panel discusses why Aston Villa rejected Arsenal’s bid for Ollie Watkins

Al Nassr’s move for Duran comes amid Villa rejecting a bid from Arsenal for striker Ollie Watkins, who has been Villa head coach’s Unai Emery preferred striker.

Arsenal are expected to return with an improved offer for the England international.

Villa’s position is that Watkins is not for sale, which makes it unlikely a deal will be done in this window.

Watkins, known to be an Arsenal fan, is the Premier League’s ninth-top goalscorer this season with 10 goals – including Villa’s equaliser at Arsenal earlier this month.

The 29-year-old has five goals in 18 games for England, including the winner in last season’s Euro 2024 semi-final victory against the Netherlands.

Transfer Centre LIVE! Deals, rumours, news on your phone 📱

The January transfer window is OPEN!

Follow all the latest deals, news and rumours on the ‘Transfers’ section of the Sky Sports app!

Looking for news about YOUR club? Find dedicated transfer pages for EVERY Premier League team.

share Share facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Calls for Ireland to boost defence of subsea internet cables
Calls for Ireland to boost defence of subsea internet cables
Drivers skid and crash as wintery mix grips central US then moves east
Drivers skid and crash as wintery mix grips central US then moves east
A$AP Rocky assault trial continues jury selection as defense protests lack of Black candidates
A$AP Rocky assault trial continues jury selection as defense protests lack of Black candidates
Top subscription management platforms
Top subscription management platforms
Lady Sue Carr
Lady chief justice condemns Starmer and Badenoch over immigration comments
News18
Tina Datta Remembers Her Grandmother: ‘No More Sloppy Kisses And Cheek Rubs’ – News18
The News Revolution: Where the World Connects | © 2025 | Daily News