Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán has quickly emerged as one of the Premier League’s most exciting talents, with manager Unai Emery predicting that the Colombian forward could evolve into a £100 million player.
According to a report by The Telegraph, Durán has made a significant impact with eight Premier League goals as a substitute, including a stunning 30-yard winner against Everton earlier this month. His performances have attracted attention from over 30 clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, West Ham, AC Milan, and Sporting, but Emery was determined to retain the 19-year-old star.
Durán’s remarkable journey began in Medellín, Colombia, where he was discovered by Chicago Fire’s technical director, Sebastian Pelzer, in 2020. His impressive physicality and speed earned him a move to Major League Soccer for $2 million. At Chicago, he recorded 11 goal contributions in just 1,363 minutes, prompting Aston Villa to secure his services for £14 million in January 2023, successfully fending off interest from top European teams.
Key to this successful transfer were Villa’s sporting director, Johan Lange, and head of recruitment, Rob Mackenzie, who compiled a seven-minute highlight video showcasing Durán’s best moments from his time in Colombia and Chicago. This “Goals on Film” compilation had a profound effect on Durán’s father and agent, Regino, who reportedly became emotional during the viewing, leading to a swift agreement on the deal.
Although Durán has had to exercise patience regarding first-team opportunities and faced criticism over his maturity, Emery has always recognized his potential. Initially signed as a long-term prospect to support Ollie Watkins, Durán’s unique abilities have become increasingly evident.
Pelzer noted, “He has things that other players don’t have,” emphasizing Durán’s exceptional talent. Despite early frustrations with limited game time, Durán has already scored five goals in all competitions this season. Pelzer believes that if Durán remains grounded, his natural talent and goal-scoring instinct could lead him to become one of the most feared forwards in the Premier League.
