ASTON VILLA has agreed to sign Jhon Durán from Chicago Fire.
Villa will allegedly pay an initial €16.6 million (£14.75 million) for the striker.
“Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been struck with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old attacker Jhon Durán,” according to a statement from the club.
“The deal is conditional on the player passing a medical, agreeing to personal terms, and acquiring the required work visa.”
Colombia international Durán made 22 appearances in the MLS for the Fire last season, scoring eight goals, and has played three times for his country.
Once the deal is completed he will become Villa’s second January signing after the arrival of full-back Alex Moreno from Real Betis last week.
Meanwhile, Shakhtar Donetsk owner Rinat Akhmetov will contribute roughly €23 million (£20.4 million) of the transfer price received from Chelsea for the sale of Mykhailo Mudryk to help those affected by Ukraine’s war.
Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker, Jhon Durán.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 16, 2023
The 22-year-old winger was revealed at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, following his €69.8m (£62m) signing from Ukrainian champions, a cost that may grow to €99.2m (£88m) depending on performances.
It is the highest transfer fee ever received by a Ukrainian club and comes as a financial boost for Shakhtar after the Court of Arbitration for Sport last week ruled that Fifa acted legally in allowing foreign players to cancel their contracts at Ukrainian clubs following Russia’s invasion last February.
Akhmetov, a millionaire businessman from Donetsk who grew wealthy after the Soviet Union’s demise, took over Shakhtar in 1996 and bankrolled the team to become the greatest in Ukraine and a regular in the Champions League.
During the country’s ongoing conflict with Russia, he has given regular philanthropic gifts, including delivering humanitarian relief at Shakhtar’s former stadium, the Donbas Arena, after pro-Russian separatists took control of Donetsk in 2014. Aid was cut off in 2017 after rebels restricted entry to the stadium.
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