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Jhon Duran set for Al-Nassr medical ahead of blockbuster €77m move from Aston Villa in transfer blow to Arsenal as Ollie Watkins plans are scuppered
Jhon Duran is on the verge of joining Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, with the Colombian striker set to undergo a medical ahead of a blockbuster transfer.
Duran started the 2024-25 season in explosive form but has struggled for consistent game time due to the impressive performances of Aston Villa’s star striker, Ollie Watkins. Despite this, Al-Nassr is prepared to splash €77 million (£64.5m/$80m) plus add-ons for the 21-year-old, according to The Athletic. His medical is scheduled for Thursday in London before finalizing the move.
Many fans will be disappointed to see Duran leave top-tier European football, given his talent and Premier League goal-scoring record. However, the young forward appears keen on accepting a lucrative five-and-a-half-year deal to join football stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mané, and Aymeric Laporte at Al-Nassr.
Despite making 16 of his 20 Premier League appearances this season as a substitute, Duran has still managed to net seven league goals. Across all competitions, he has scored 12 goals in 55 league appearances for Villa, along with three goals in seven Champions League games, helping the club secure a place in the knockout stages.
Duran’s move could have wider implications for the transfer market, particularly for Arsenal. The Gunners had been monitoring Villa’s first-choice striker, Ollie Watkins, but with Unai Emery now losing his backup option, the chances of Watkins leaving this window have significantly diminished.