Chelsea agree personal terms with Jhon Duran, opens Aston Villa path for Super Eagles striker

Two-time UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea, have agreed personal terms with Colombian striker, Jhon Duran, freeing the path for Kelechi Iheanacho to join Aston Villa, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ollie Watkins had a super season in the English Premier League under Unai Emery, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists to help Villa return to the UEFA Champions League.

Ahead of a busy 2025/2025 season, the West Midlands side are looking for another striker to relieve some of the goalscoring duties off Watkins.

Their second striker, the Colombian Jhon Duran, averaged a goal contribution every 92 minutes in the Premier League last season. As per Football Insider, the 20-year-old has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, as the London side to solve their goalscoring problems after Nicolas Jackson has proven that he cannot be relied upon.

Soccernet.ng earlier reported that Aston Villa’s representatives met with Iheanacho last month ahead of a potential move to Villa Park.

The 27-year-old will be a free agent at the start of next month as his contract with Leicester City runs out. Iheanacho was third in Leicester’s pecking order, behind Jamie Vardy and Patson Daka, and he was able to score just six goals for The Foxes in the just-concluded season.

Unai Emery’s side are looking to be smart in the transfer window as they are believed to be close to the profit and sustainability (PSR) limit after announcing losses of £119 in their latest 2022-23 accounts. By signing Iheanacho on a free, and selling Duran, they will be able to balance the books.

The seven-time English Premier League winners are also looking to bring in two more players after confirming the signature of Ross Barkley last month.