With an instinctive lob over the great Manuel Neuer, Jhon Duran joined Peter Withe in the short but sweet list of Aston Villa match-winners against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Yet Duran came so close to leaving this summer, when Chelsea and West Ham both made concerted efforts to prise him away from Villa Park.
The 20-year-old has been described as an “unusual” character, and his Villa team-mate John McGinn said in May: “Big Jhon is a bit nuts. He’s a nightmare sometimes to have in your team. But he has moments of quality.”
Duran had proved his promise in fits and starts by the end of last season, having joined from Chicago Fire in January 2023. But the Colombian became disgruntled over playing second fiddle to Ollie Watkins. He wanted to be the main man up front.
Chelsea had already sensed this by January this year, when they first made their interest known. They reignited their efforts to sign him in June, when Villa granted them permission, through gritted teeth, to discuss personal terms with Duran.
Unai Emery did not want to sell him, but the club’s willingness to at least explore an exit was born not from a wish to rid themselves of a restless young player but rather as a potential solution to the club’s finances, which were close to the limit with regards to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR).
The two clubs were approaching agreement over a deal worth around £42million, but Chelsea wanted to put him on a long-term contract with lower wages than he had hoped for. Soon it emerged that the Hammers were also interested in a move.
In an ill-advised and dangerously honest interview with ESPN Deportes in the summer, Duran revealed: “I take it very calmly with the help of my agent and my dad, we are taking everything little by little.
“That my name is mentioned with such big teams is very important for my career. I’m happy that there are these rumours and let’s hope that something concrete happens.”
In July, Duran was the subject of a formal bid from West Ham, who offered £30m plus teenager Lewis Orford. Villa did not accept the deal and launched an internal investigation into Duran’s conduct when he crossed his arms during an Instagram live video to his followers, seemingly mimicking the Hammers gesture.
Emery was clear enough. Duran had been too impatient to leave but had simply made a “youngster’s mistake”.
West Ham and Chelsea’s loss is very much Aston Villa’s gain
Duran had no option left but to stick it out at Villa, who soon enough decided the summer situation was all water under the bridge.
He remains deputy to Watkins but has taken his game to an altogether new level in recent weeks. Five of his six goals coming as a substitute, this season he is the leading marksman off the bench across all competitions in Europe’s five major leagues.
And five of the six have been stylish match-winners for Villa — the effort over Neuer just the latest addition to an enviable showreel of fine strikes. West Ham and Chelsea’s loss is very much Villa’s gain.
