Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news that Douglas Luiz will return to Aston Villa. The Brazilian midfielder reached a verbal agreement with Juventus earlier this week. The deal involves a paid loan containing a buy option. Nottingham Forest agreed to terminate his temporary contract.
Aston Villa Reach Agreement With This Chelsea Target Douglas Luiz
Luiz spent the first half of the 2025/26 campaign there. Ending the deal early lets Juventus send him immediately to Birmingham. Unai Emery reportedly intervened personally to secure the move.
This came as Chelsea also expressed a strong interest in acquiring the 27-year-old’s services. Villa Park officials worked quickly to finalise terms after talks opened last week. This ensures the fan-favourite returns to the club where he previously enjoyed the best football of his career.
The logistics proved complicated, but all three clubs found common ground. Juventus purchased Luiz for £43m in 2024. They might have sanctioned the switch because the player’s value risked dropping even more. This followed a stagnant six months at the City Ground. Forest were happy to offload his wages since he started only five Premier League matches this season.
Villa now take on his salary. The club are also in a good position to make the transfer permanent next summer should he rediscover his form. This transfer marks Aston Villa’s fourth signing of a busy January window. It follows the arrival of Tammy Abraham from Besiktas.
A Calculated Risk for Unai Emery
The 2025/26 season has been a disaster for Douglas Luiz so far. His initial move to Juventus in 2024 failed to ignite. The loan to Nottingham Forest promised a fresh start but delivered frustration. He managed just 318 minutes of Premier League action across eight appearances for Forest. The Brazilian midfielder contributed zero goals and zero assists.
Things got worse when Sean Dyche took charge at the City Ground. The Brazilian’s style clashed with the new manager’s direct tactical approach. The manager frequently sat him on the bench or excluded him from the squad entirely. He looked like a shadow of the dominant figure who scored nine goals for Villa in 2023/24.
That said, context explains why Aston Villa pushed so hard for this reunion. Unai Emery faces a severe midfield crisis. A serious knee injury has ruled out Boubacar Kamara for the remainder of the season. On top of that, Youri Tielemans is struggling with recurring ankle problems. Villa need a proven Premier League operator who understands Emery’s specific tactical demands immediately.
Luiz knows the system and loves the club. He requires no adaptation period. While the 27-year-old’s recent form worries some observers, the low-risk nature of a loan with an option to buy makes this a shrewd business. If Emery can coax the 2023 version of Douglas Luiz back into existence, Villa will have solved their midfield shortage. They will do so with a player who already calls Villa Park home.
