EPL: Jhon Durán extends contract with Aston Villa

Aston Villa have announced that striker Jhon Durán has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2030.

The 20-year-old forward has been in impressive form at the start of this season, scoring six goals, including a crucial winner on Wednesday that led Villa to a memorable victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

“Aston Villa are delighted to announce that Jhon Durán has signed a new contract with the club until 2030. The 20-year-old has been in sparkling form at the start of this season, scoring six times, including the only goal on Wednesday night which sealed a famous win over German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League,” the club said in a statement on Monday via its website.

Durán’s standout performances have also seen him score decisive goals in Premier League matches against West Ham, Leicester City, and Everton, the latter featuring a stunning long-range strike.

The Colombian international joined Aston Villa in January 2023 from MLS club Chicago Fire and has quickly become an integral part of the squad.

Durán has emerged as one of the Premier League’s most unpredictable talents, with manager Unai Emery predicting the Colombian forward could become a £100 million star.

A report by The Telegraph in September noted that Durán has proven to be a game-changer, with eight Premier League goals as a substitute, including a spectacular 30-yard winner against Everton earlier last month.

This summer, over 30 clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, West Ham, AC Milan, and Sporting, expressed interest in Durán, but Emery was determined to keep the 19-year-old.

Durán’s journey from Medellín, Colombia, to the Premier League has been remarkable.

Spotted by Chicago Fire’s technical director, Sebastian Pelzer, in 2020, Durán quickly caught attention with his physical stature and blistering pace, earning him a move to Major League Soccer for $2 million.