Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is close to completing a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, sources have confirmed to BBC Sport. A fee has been agreed between the two clubs and Duran - who was on the bench for Villa's 4-2 win over Celtic on Wednesday night - was undergoing a medical on Thursday. A price of £65m for the 21-year-old Colombian has been reported, albeit not verified by BBC Sport. A senior Saudi Pro League source stated Duran will fly to Saudi Arabia on Saturday if the medical goes well.
Sources also indicated Duran was saying his goodbyes to staff and colleagues at Villa Park on Wednesday night after the deal progressed. A Saudi delegation has been stationed in London this week negotiating the deal. Aston Villa has been approached for comment. Villa manager Unai Emery was asked post-match on Wednesday about the future of Duran as well as striker Ollie Watkins, amid a rejected bid from Arsenal. Regarding Duran, Emery remarked, "If he is leaving it's because he wants [to]. I told you last week I wanted him here. We are different people, different objectives. Our objective here is to keep our structure because we want to keep the level high, and maybe we have to sell some players - and I don't know exactly until everything is done whether or not Jhon Duran is leaving - but if he does, it'll be good news for us because it's good money."
Duran joined Villa from Chicago Fire for £18m in January 2023 but is now expected to leave in a deal reportedly worth more than £64.4m plus add-ons. While Al-Nassr currently occupies fourth place in the Saudi Pro League table, Duran has scored 12 goals across 29 appearances this season. Despite his contributions, manager Unai Emery has frequently favored England's Watkins as his first-choice striker.
Villa has also turned down approaches for Watkins, particularly one from Arsenal prior to their match against Scottish champions Celtic. Earlier this year, Duran faced controversy after it was reported he had agreed personal terms with West Ham. While the Hammers attempted to sign him with a £57m bid, this was rejected. Chelsea was initially interested as well, but after evaluating his character and temperament, they withdrew their interest.
Moving on, Steven Gerrard has left his role as manager of Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent after 18 months at the helm. Gerrard took over during the summer of 2023 and even signed a two-year extension earlier this year, committing him to the club until 2027. Yet, with just five wins out of 17 league matches, Al-Ettifaq found themselves perilously close to the relegation zone.
Reflecting on his time there, Gerrard noted, "Football is unpredictable and sometimes things don't go the way we want. I leave with great respect for the club and the country. I have no doubt the work being done will bring future success, and I wish the team the very best for the rest of the season." Al-Ettifaq's president, Samer Al Misehal, recognized Gerrard's contributions, saying, "He transformed the club. Sometimes things don't go as planned, but the firm foundations he helped build will guarantee a bright future."
The manager left the club with Al-Ettifaq currently ranked 12th out of 16 teams, having achieved 23 wins out of 59 matches overall. Reports suggested he was one of the highest-paid managers worldwide, earning about £15m per year during his time with Al-Ettifaq.
Further insights from Saudi Arabia reveal the ambition to attract top-tier players to the league continues unabated. Saudi Arabia's sports minister expressed his desire to see Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah join the league. Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal acknowledged Salah's talent and hinted at the possibility, stating, "Definitely, because if he ticks all the right boxes, even for us, we’d love to have him. We feel like we are one with the Egyptians, from our culture and our history." This continued speculation surrounding Salah's future is fueled by the fact he is set to be out of contract with Liverpool this summer.
The prince also discussed Saudi Arabia's recent victory of being awarded the right to host the 2034 men’s World Cup, emphasizing the nation’s growing presence on the international sports stage. While he mentioned the timing of the tournament remains debated—a factor following the success of Qatar's winter World Cup—he remains optimistic about opportunities to showcase Saudi Arabia as a host nation.
Overall, these significant player transfers and managerial changes reflect the strategic pivot within the Saudi Pro League, as teams aim to bolster their ranks and refine their management. With Duran's high-value transfer possibly spurring more talent influx and Gerrard's exit marking the transient nature of foreign management, it becomes clear the league is undergoing transformative developments. The allure of Saudi Arabia as both a competitive league and desirable destination for talent continues to rise, drawing attention from global football.