Didier Drogba and former Aston Villa ace Jhon Duran.
(Credit: Soccer AM on Youtube/Imago)
Declan Carr
Tue 19 August 2025 17:10, UK
Aston Villa may have finally replaced Jhon Duran.
The Colombian forward was sold in January, with Villa receiving a fee of £71million, despite a stunning run of form at the start of last season.
Duran was allowed to leave to ease the Profit and Sustainability issues that the Villa Park outfit had, but there were also concerns about his attitude.
Unai Emery may have already found his second fiddle to Ollie Watkins in his squad, though.
Unai Emery looks on in agitation.
Emery has endured a difficult transfer window. (Credit: Imago)
Aston Villa News presents the exclusive opinion of iconic football commentator Ian Darke.
Drogba comparisons made after Villa sign Guessand
Aston Villa announced the signing of Evann Guessand in a £30million deal earlier this month.
Darke has heard of comparisons between the new Villa man and Drogba and believes he will see a fair bit of action this season.
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Speaking exclusively to Villa News, he said: “I have not seen enough of him to stay [whether he can start over Watkins], but the word is that there are shades of Didier Drogba about him.
“He plays for the Ivory Coast. I think he has conversations with Drogba, and he can also join in the play.
“I think he was voted as the second-best player in Ligue 1 last season in France, came up with a dozen goals or so for Nice.
“The reports are all good, I think Villa were not the only club that wanted to sign him, I think he has been signed as the replacement for Jhon Duran in the squad.
“They don’t have Asensio and Rashford hanging around on loan, like they did at the back end of last season, so he has come in.
“I think he is going to see plenty of game time, along the way, one way or another.”
Evan Guessand
Guessand is the Villans newest star. (Credit: Imago)
Aston Villa will hope Guessand can have Drogba-like impact
Drogba scored 10 goals in his first season in the English top-flight, helping Chelsea to the Premier League title and notched an extra five in the Champions League.
Why are they compared:
Both are Ivorian strikers
Both possess a physical build
Drogba has been Guessand’s mentor in the past
He ended up with 164 goals and 82 assists in 381 games for the Stamford Bridge outfit in a remarkable career.
If Guessand can have anywhere near that impact for the Villans, it would prove to be a brilliant signing.
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