This summer, over 30 clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, West Ham, AC Milan, and Sporting, targeted Durán, but Emery was determined to keep the 19-year-old. Durán’s journey from Medellin, Colombia, to the Premier League has been remarkable.
Spotted by Chicago Fire’s technical director, Sebastian Pelzer, in 2020, Durán quickly caught attention with his physical stature and blistering pace, earning him a move to Major League Soccer for $2 million.
At Chicago, Durán delivered 11 goal contributions in 1,363 minutes, prompting Aston Villa to sign him for £14 million in January 2023, fending off interest from top European clubs.
Villa’s sporting director, Johan Lange, and head of recruitment, Rob Mackenzie, played a key role in securing the deal.
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