Aston Villa Reignite Interest in Former Midfield Star Douglas Luiz

Kenya, January 27, 2026 - Aston Villa have reignited their pursuit of midfielder Douglas Luiz as they look to strengthen their squad before the January transfer window closes. The Brazilian, who left Villa for Juventus in 2024, has seen his career stall in Italy and is once again attracting attention from his former club.

Luiz, 27, was a key figure for Villa during his five-year spell at Villa Park, making over 200 appearances and earning plaudits for his energy, passing range, and ball-winning ability from midfield. That form helped earn him a big-money move to Juventus, but the Italian chapter has not gone as planned. After limited opportunities under the current Juve setup, he moved on loan to Nottingham Forest for the 2025-26 season, but has struggled for consistent game time.

With injuries depleting Villa’s midfield, boss Unai Emery has prioritised bringing in reinforcements. Villa are now in active talks with Juventus to bring Luiz back to the Premier League, potentially on loan for the rest of the season. Negotiations are ongoing and could develop quickly as the deadline approaches.

The interest in Luiz comes amid a busy transfer period for Villa. The club has already moved to strengthen other areas, including signing striker Tammy Abraham, but injuries to key midfielders such as Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn have left a void in central areas. Luiz’s experience in the Premier League makes him an attractive option for a Villa side eager to maintain momentum in the league.

Chelsea is also reportedly interested in signing Luiz, potentially on loan with an option to make the move permanent. That competition could make negotiations for Villa more complicated, as Chelsea seeks to bolster their squad amid their own injury issues in midfield.