Aston Villa Reward Super-Sub Jhon Duran With a Contract Extension Till 2030

20-year-old striker Jhon Duran has agreed terms with Aston Villa on a contract extension, which sees his contract expire in 2030. The Colombian has made a blistering start to the 2024/25 campaign, already playing a key role in Villa’s wins against Everton, West Ham and Bayern Munich.

Jhon Duran’s previous deal with Aston Villa ran till 2028, but it’s now extending after some top clubs showed interest in the striker this summer. According to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, “Jhon Durán has signed new long term deal at Aston Villa, agreement sealed as part of the plan since August. After Chelsea and West Ham deals both collapsed, Villa verbally agreed to give Durán new contract with important salary rise.” The 20-year-old Colombian was linked to clubs like West Ham and Chelsea. In fact, Duran even agreed personal terms with the Hammers, but Villa were in no mood to let him leave. And their decision to keep Duran in Birmingham has been emphatically rewarded. Despite starting just one game this season, Duran has already scored six goals, including winners off the bench against Everton, West Ham and Bayern Munich. 

Aston Villa brought Jhon Duran from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023 for a fee of approximately 18-million pounds. The 20-year-old striker has made 59 appearances for the Villans, but Unai Emery has handed him just 11 starts. Despite the lack of playing time, Duran has scored 14 goals for Villa. If he continues to perform in the same vein, it will only be a matter of time before he becomes a permanent fixture in Villa’s Starting XI. However, for the moment, he will have to play a back-up role to Villa’s talisman, Ollie Watkins. However, if Watkins is Aston Villa’s present, then Duran is the future. And sooner Unai Emery realizes that, the easier it will be to keep hold of Duran. 

With Aston Villa playing Champions League football once again after 42 years, Jhon Duran will surely get the opportunity to start games. And his rise from a fringe player to one of Emery’s go-to guys will give Villa fans hope that Emery is the best manager for Duran’s development. Tying down Jhon Duran to a contract till 2030 is a step in the right direction. And it just goes on to show how ambitious Villa have become since Unai Emery took charge in 2022. But the big question is: can Aston Villa shatter the “top-six” glass ceiling that so many other clubs have tried and failed?