In-form Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has signed a new contract to keep him at the club until 2030.
The 20-year-old Colombian has been in sensational form this season, scoring the only goal in Villa’s famous victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League last Wednesday.
Duran has chipped in with six goals in all competitions already this term, netting winning goals against West Ham, Leicester and Everton.
The striker, who joined from Chicago Fire in 2023, has found his feet in Unai Emery’s side this season after being heavily linked with a move away from Villa Park in the summer.
He was public about his desire to leave the club, with both West Ham and Chelsea believed to be chasing the talented youngster but reports of as many as 40 teams credited with an interest.
Duran is yet to start in the Premier League ahead of first-choice Ollie Watkins but calls are growing for Emery to play the pair up front together after the Colombia international’s stunning impact.
Aston Villa is delighted to announce that Jhon Durán has signed a new contract with the club!
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 7, 2024
Duran’s sensational start
Duran’s time appeared to be up at Villa during the summer, with his public calls for a move away seeing him bear the brunt from disgruntled supporters.
But with a move not materialising, the frontman has shown exactly why he felt so passionately that he should be Villa’s starting No9.
Within seconds of being introduced at West Ham on the first day, he dealt a killer blow to the club he nearly joined to secure a 2-1 victory before doing the same with an excellent header in their next away trip at Leicester.
Duran’s extraodinary talent was on show once again versus Everton, letting fly with an outragerous long-range strike into the top corner to make himself the hero again in a 3-2 win.
Another close-range goal off the bench followed against Wolves before he netted yet another goal which proved to be decisive in the Carabao Cup against Wycombe.
But it is Duran’s most recent goal which has seen him explode onto the world stage as well as write himself into Villa folklore.
Yet again starting from the bench against German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Duran spotted Manuel Neuer off his line before finding the net with a brilliant first-time lob to secure a famous win.
After £40million was reportedly enough to land the starlet in the summer, Duran’s start to the season plus his new deal suggests it will take a lot more to prize him away from Emery’s side now.
Jhon Durán. 2030. Aston Villa. pic.twitter.com/Q2HAoFuIV5
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 7, 2024
