Juventus pay €60m to Aston Villa for Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz after deal was formally reached
The 26-year-old helped the Premier League club qualify for the Champions League next season
Juventus have confirmed the purchase of Brazilian international Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa for €60 million.
The 26-year-old midfielder played a key role in helping Villa qualify for the Europa Conference League and Champions League over the past two seasons and made over 150 appearances for the club.
Luiz joined Villa from Manchester City in the summer of 2019 after starting his career at Vasco da Gama in his native Brazil.
He made his senior international debut a few months after joining Villa, and won a gold medal for Brazil at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021.
Juventus marked the signing by saying on their club website: “Douglas Luiz embarks on a new adventure with Juventus after five years with Villa, where he has shown exponential growth technically, physically and tactically. Welcome to Juventus, Douglas. We can’t wait to see you on the pitch!”
Luiz agreed a five-year contract with the Italian club as he became the latest player to leave Villa Park due to the Premier League club’s financial fair-play cost-cutting.
Signed from Manchester City in 2019, the 26-year-old spent five years with Villa and was a key player in their surprise fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Luiz, who scored 22 goals in 204 appearances for Villa, completed his medical ahead of the Juventus move while on international duty with Brazil at the Copa America.
“I’m really happy to be a Bianconero. I can’t wait to play in the Allianz Stadium. See you soon and Forza Juve!” Luiz said in a social media video.
The Premier League club announced Luiz’s departure on their website, saying: “Aston Villa can confirm that Douglas Luiz has joined Juventus.”
Luiz, who helped Brazil win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, was voted Villa’s Player of the Year in 2022-23.
But Villa’s need to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) forced boss Unai Emery to agree to Luiz’s sale.
PSR rules permit losses of up to £105 million over three years.
Villa have already sold Tim Iroegbunam to Everton for £9 million during the close-season, while Chelsea paid £19 million for Omari Kellyman.
Tottenham have been linked with Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey, while Emery has signed Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen and Everton’s Lewis Dobbin.
Luiz will be joining a Juventus side that finished third in Serie A last season, 24 points behind champions Inter Milan.
