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Aston Villa boss Unai Emery makes big call on £23m midfielder

Player had been keen to stay with the club.

Villa have decided against triggering their option to buy Douglas Luiz for £23million.

The midfielder will instead leave the club for a second time this summer and return to parent club Juventus in time for the start of pre-season.

Luiz, who moved from Villa to the Italian club for £42.5m two years ago, returned to Villa on loan in January after Unai Emery’s squad was hit by injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn.

But the Brazilian struggled to make the desired impact, with Emery instead turning to youngster Lamare Bogarde and defender Victor Lindelof for midfield cover during the final run-in, as Villa secured a top-four Premier League finish and won the Europa League.

Luiz, a popular figure with supporters who made more than 200 appearances during his first spell at the club between 2019 and 2024, had been keen to make a permanent return after struggling for form with Juventus and then while on loan at Nottingham Forest during the first half of the season.

But Emery has decided against triggering the option with Villa instead choosing to look elsewhere for midfield reinforcements during the upcoming transfer window.

Villa’s boss also wants to add pace to his attack with Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes on the club’s shortlist.

Celta Vigo’s Oscar Mingueza is a defensive target with Emery looking for someone who can cover both the right-sided centre-back and right-back positions.

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