In the famous words of popular transfer news reporter, Fabrizio Romano, it’s “HERE WE GO” for the long-touted exchange deal between Aston Villa and Juventus involving Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz.
However, there is a change from what has been reported for weeks.
Initial reports suggested that Villa were willing to swap Luiz for American midfielder Weston McKennie and possibly Federico Chiesa, whose future at the Allianz Stadium is currently uncertain.
Chiesa may or may not be playing in Turin next season but the forward, who is currently at the ongoing Euros tournament in Germany, has made it clear that any decisions he will make will come after he has done his bit for Italy, the defending champions of Europe.
For McKennie, it touted a return to England where he spent six months playing for Leeds United in 2023. The former Schalke 04 man is considered a disposable player despite being useful enough to start more than 80 percent of Juventus’ league matches last season.
It is important to point out that his wage demands were a stumbling block for the deal, according to reports, leading Villa to choose other options.
Luiz has been the target of many clubs since his debut for Villa in 2019. Juventus are the lucky team. However, it looks like Villa are getting the shorter end of the stick thanks to what appears to be their first choice for the swap with the Old Lady being denied in favour of two others: Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea.
Iling-Junior is a young English winger who moved to Italy from Chelsea in 2020 and had his breakout season for the Old Lady in 2023/24. Barrenechea, on the other hand, spent his 2023/24 on loan in Serie A with Frosinone, who got relegated and will play in Serie B next season. Unlike the experience of McKennie and Chiesa, getting two rookies for Luiz has elicited skeptical commentary from the club’s fans, especially as they prepare to return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade.
Villa will earn €50 million for Luiz despite the inclusion of Iling-Junior and Barrenechea in the deal. However, they will pay €22 million (plus €3 million in bonuses) for the two players they’re getting in return, making Juventus’ net spend on this transfer €25 million.
Luiz will undergo a medical next week.
Luiz is leaving Villa as one of their most prized assets because of the club’s failure to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability (PSR) rules, having reported a loss of £119m in their accounts up to 31 May 2023.
