Douglas Luiz returns to Villa after a year and a half away, with a €25 million option to buy this summer.

Many players rely heavily on their system and struggle to perform well when taken out of their known surroundings and tactical setup; Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz might be one such player.

The latest news from The Athletic reveals that Aston Villa secured a loan-to-buy deal for 27-year-old Douglas Luiz from Juventus during the winter window, with an agreement in place that enables Villa to exercise a purchase option for €25 million plus bonuses this summer.

It is reported that Aston Villa is competing on two fronts—the Premier League and the Europa Conference League—so coach Emery is eager to strengthen the squad during the winter window. He aims to re-sign Douglas Luiz, who struggled after leaving, quickly reaching a loan agreement with Juventus that includes a buyout clause after this season. Once Douglas Luiz passes his medical examination, the club will officially announce the deal.

Douglas Luiz transferred from Vasco da Gama to Manchester City in the summer of 2017 for €12 million but was immediately loaned out to Girona for two years. In the summer of 2019, he joined Aston Villa for €16.8 million and became a key player under Emery’s tactics. In the summer of 2024, he moved to Juventus for €51.5 million but failed to meet expectations. The player then chose to return to the Premier League by joining Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2025 for €3 million. Now, he is set to cut short his loan and return to Aston Villa ahead of schedule.

Currently 27 years old, Douglas Luiz stands 1.77 meters tall, is right-footed, and primarily plays as a midfielder but can also operate as a defensive midfielder. His market value on Transfermarkt is €25 million, matching Aston Villa’s buyout fee. This season, he has appeared only 8 times in the Premier League, starting 5 matches and totaling 317 minutes without any goal contributions; in the Europa Conference League, he started 4 matches and provided 1 assist; he also started once each in the FA Cup and League Cup.