19-year-old Colombian striker Jhon Duran has been signed by Aston Villa following a £15 million ($18m) deal with MLS outfit the Chicago Fire. 
Duran who is already the second-youngest player to score in the Colombian top flight at the age of 15, became the most expensive foreign signing in MLS history after moving to Chicago from Envigado in January 2021. The Colombia international contributed eight goals and five assists during the 2022 campaign for MLS, getting attention from Manchester United and Liverpool’s scouts. Villa has however announced that they have successfully negotiated a transfer fee with their Chicago Fire counterparts. 
The club said in a statement; “Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker, Jhon Duran. “The deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms and obtaining the necessary work visa.” Should a transfer be completed in due course, Duran will depart Chicago Fire after just one season, his development having previously begun at Engivado FC. 
Villa has moved away from the Premier League relegation zone since Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in October, collecting 13 points from six matches under the Spaniard. They now sit in 11th position in the table, 10 points above the bottom three and just six adrift of sixth-placed Fulham ahead of a trip to Southampton on January 21.
Speaking to Chelsea’s official website after completing the deal, Felix said; “Chelsea is one of the great teams in the world and I hope to help the team reach their objectives, so I am very, very happy to be here and very excited to play at Stamford Bridge.” The footballer’s exit from Atletico comes three and a half years after a €126m (£112.9m) move from Benfica, which makes him the third most expensive signing in the history of the club. 
