Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz has snubbed interest from Chelsea in order to secure a return to Aston Villa.
Chelsea are keen on adding more quality to their midfield. The Blues had their eyes set on Juventus’ Douglas Luiz, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest. While they were keen on adding him to their squad, the Brazilian has snubbed interest from the London club.
According to a report from The Standard, Luiz has agreed to return to his former club, Aston Villa, on loan until the end of the ongoing campaign. They have managed to beat Chelsea to his signature.
Luiz made a name for himself while playing for Villa in the Premier League. His consistent performances earned him a move to Juventus in the summer of 2024. Unfortunately, things didn’t click for him at the Turin-based club.
After a season full of struggle, he returned to England to join Nottingham Forest on loan. While he was keen to get his career back on track, he failed to establish himself in their first-team.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Luiz
Since he is struggling to get regular minutes, the Brazilian midfielder has been linked with a move away from the club. Chelsea entered the race for his signature, as they were keen on adding more quality to their midfield.
With Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo out injured, the Blues want an ideal replacement for the short-term and Liam Rosenior considers Luiz an ideal fit for his system. Chelsea were working on a potential transfer, but Villa have managed to beat them to his signature.
Villa win the race to sign Luiz
Luiz was quite clear about his decision. As soon as there was the option to rejoin Villa, the 27-year-old didn’t even think twice. He straightaway turned down the opportunity to play for Chelsea.
With Youri Tielemans, John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara out injured, Unai Emery is very light in midfield. The Spanish boss wants more quality to ensure they maintain their dominance in the Premier League. Luiz knowns everything about how things work at Villa, and given his past track record, he could have an immediate impact.
Luiz has already given the green light to the move, and it should be formalised in the next days. As per the report, Villa will have the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
