Jhon Duran

The Chicago Fire's Colombian wonderkid joins the English giants for a club-record fee.

It also made sense for the player, as there is a clear pathway to a starting center-forward spot at Villa Park. By the end of the year, he was a thrice-capped senior Colombian international with European scouts paying extremely close attention to his every move. It was clear that he was a very raw talent that had lots of work to do to fulfill his potential.

Last October, Chicago Fire FC head coach Ezra Hendrickson described striker Jhon Durán as a “really, really special player” – one who's going places in the ...

[Jairo Torres](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/jairo-torres/) and [Xherdan Shaqiri](https://www.mlssoccer.com/players/xherdan-shaqiri/). For the rest of us, it’s watching what Durán can accomplish in arguably the world’s top league. But the transfer fee Durán commanded represents a new frontier, a proof of concept for what the U22 Initiative can become. [Colorado Rapids](https://www.mlssoccer.com/clubs/colorado-rapids/) gave homegrown left back Sam Vines this type of contract before he was sold to Belgium’s Royal Antwerp, and [FC Dallas](https://www.mlssoccer.com/clubs/fc-dallas/) transferred winger Szabolcs Schon to Hungary’s first division. The Fire directly sold two teenage talents (one homegrown; one from abroad) to EPL teams, an established Polish international to a Ligue 1 contender, and got a sell-on fee for a homegrown product heading to a top Eredivisie team – all in the last 18 months or so. Sometimes U22 signings are homegrowns who are rewarded with a new contract, but often they’re imports (like Durán) – an area that’s worth providing extra context around. It’s still a relatively new roster mechanism, one where clubs sign players (age 22 and younger) to lucrative contracts at a reduced budget charge. His price tag isn’t necessarily surprising for a Premier League club of their spending power and transfer history – especially as they’ve acquired some attacking centerpieces (Emiliano Buendía and Leon Bailey, as two examples) in recent transfer windows for roughly double what Durán reportedly costs. The 19-year-old is a bit raw in some areas – his combination play and defensive spots come to mind – but his goal-front instincts and physical profile are a handful for opposing defenders. But European teams know there are deals to be found in MLS and its players can translate to top-five leagues. He brought a smaller sample size (< 1,500 minutes), but the potential clearly put him on the scouting radar of high-profile clubs. At the time, Durán was also the youngest international player signing in MLS history.

Aston Villa have agreed to sign Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire as they look to secure their second transfer of the January window.

We have to be so, so proud of him here. “Before, when we worked in London with Arsenal together, and here he’s a very good guy, respectful. “We have values and we try to be respectful, first with us, second with the opposing side and of course with the supporters. “Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker Jhon Duran,” read an Aston Villa statement. One moment is for the national team in the World Cup, the other one is here. Aston Villa have agreed to sign Jhon Duran from Chicago Fire as they look to secure their second transfer of the January window.

Once the deal is completed he will become Villa's second January signing after the arrival of full-back Alex Moreno from Real Betis last week.

“Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker Jhon Duran,” read a Villa statement. “The deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms and obtaining the necessary work visa.” The deal for the striker will reportedly cost Villa an initial £14.75million.

The deal for the striker will reportedly cost Villa an initial £14.75million. "Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire ...

"Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker Jhon Duran," read a Villa statement. The deal for the striker will reportedly cost Villa an initial £14.75million.

The 19-year-old striker scored eight goals in 22 appearances for the MLS side Fire last season and has played three times for Colombia.

He is the second player to join Forest from Palmeiras in recent weeks after Gustavo Scarpa. Aston Villa reached an agreement to sign Colombia striker Jhon Duran from Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire for a reported USD 18 million. The 19-year-old Duran scored eight goals in 22 appearances for the Fire last season and has played three times for Colombia.

Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as Jhon Duran gives his response to a transfer agreement being reached between Chicago Fire and Villa.

It is reported that [Villa](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/aston-villa-fc) will pay a fee of $18million (£14.76m) with a further $4million (£3.26m) in add-ons. “I’m grateful to my teammates, coaches, Club staff, and the fans for all the support I received this past year. He was able to make his MLS debut a year later and has since made 28 first team appearances for the club. [comments section](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/jhon-duran-sends-emotional-message-26003649#comments-wrapper) [he said](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-jhon-duran-26002722). He has been granted permission to leave the Colombia U20 side to sort his future ahead of the U20 South American Championships. [Jhon Duran first words as £15m man jets in to complete Aston Villa transfer](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-jhon-duran-26002722) [Chicago Fire release statement on Jhon Duran to Aston Villa transfer](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chicago-fire-statement-jhon-duran-26003419) Duran signed for Chicago fire from Colombian side Envigado in January 2021 as a 17-year-old. [Premier League](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/premier-league) with Villa. [on his way to England to complete a medical](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfers-jhon-duran-26000043) and discuss personal terms with Villa ahead of officially completing his move. [confirmed by both clubs that an agreement has been reached](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chicago-fire-statement-jhon-duran-26003419) for the 19-year-old to move to [Villa Park](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/all-about/villa-park-stadium) in January.