Super Sub Jhon Duran Pens Contract Extension With Aston Villa

Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

The 20-year-old, who was heavily linked with a move to West Ham in the summer, has agreed a deal which will keep him at Villa Park until 2030.

Duran has excelled as a super-sub for Villa this season, netting four league goals as a substitute and scoring a remarkable winner in the recent Champions League match against Bayern Munich.

He also netted in his one start so far this campaign, a 2-1 Carabao Cup win at League One side Wycombe.

The Colombian joined Villa in January 2023 from MLS team Chicago Fire for £18 million and scored five goals in 23 Premier League appearances last season.

He has forged a key role as Unai Emery’s super sub, striking match-winning goals against West Ham, Leicester, and Everton before securing a memorable Champions League victory against Bayern Munich.

That was Duran’s sixth goal of the season as he continues to settle in English football and flourish under Emery’s management.

“He arrived here two years ago, and he is young; his potential is huge,” the Aston Villa manager said of Duran after beating Bayern.

“Sometimes he has been impatient and I need to speak to him as a person and connect to him as a person.

“As well as a player to try to let him play, putting him on the field because his talent is there and the capacity to help us.”

He did not score in his first 12 matches for Aston Villa but went on to net eight goals across all competitions last season.

Already capped 12 times for Colombia, he has been called up to Nestor Lorenzo’s squad for World Cup qualifying fixtures against Bolivia and Chile this month.