Douglas Luiz is expected to complete a move back to Aston Villa 18 months after leaving.placeholder image
Douglas Luiz is expected to complete a move back to Aston Villa 18 months after leaving. | Getty Images
Aston Villa are close to confirming their fourth signing of the winter window
Aston Villa have agreed a deal to re-sign popular midfielder Douglas Luiz from Italian heavyweights Juventus.
The 27-year-old is expected to become the club’s fourth winter signing following deals to sign strikers Brian Madjo and Tammy Abraham along with promising Brazilian winger Alysson Edward.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that Luiz will undergo the final parts of a medical on Wednesday ahead of completing the move back to the West Midlands where he enjoyed an incredible five-year stint between 2019 and 2024.
Luiz returns to Aston Villa on loan deal with option to buy
Luiz left Aston Villa in 2024 to complete a blockbuster £43m move to Juventus but now finds himself back in familiar surroundings just 18 months after his move to Italy.
The switch will see the Brazil international return until the end of the season, with Unai Emery’s side beating Chelsea to his signature in a real statement of intent.
Luiz’s deal also includes an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season for an agreed figure of around €25million (£21.7m) plus add-ons, making the move significantly cheaper than his transfer to Turin.
The midfielder has only made eight top-flight appearances this term on loan at Forest, having sustained a hamstring injury earlier in the season.
He also struggled to find form in his first season at the Allianz Stadium under the management of both Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor before current head coach Luciano Spalletti’s decision to let him leave once again this month.
Why Aston Villa made the move for Luiz
Villa’s problems have since been compounded further by injuries to both John McGinn and Youri Tielemans, leaving the club in need of quality to help them cope with the demands of Europe, a title push and potentially another FA Cup run.
Luiz has already proven he has what it takes to thrive at Villa Park. He played over 200 matches in his first spell at the club and was a central figure in helping the team to achieve Champions League qualification for the first time since 1983 in his final campaign before departing.
The Brazil international is familiar with Emery’s methods, the coaching staff and the majority of players still at the club. He has the potential to seamlessly slot back into the team, with the only real risk being his recent fitness record and his slight dip in form.
This could prove a transformative signing in terms of the title race and Villa’s hopes of competing on all fronts in a challenging period with matches coming thick and fast.
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