Aston Villa signs highly-rated 19-year-old striker Jhon Duran from MLS side Chicago Fire

Aston Villa have signed highly rated 19-year-old Colombian international Jhon Duran from Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire in a deal worth up to $22 million.

Several European teams, including Liverpool and Chelsea, have been linked to the striker, who scored eight goals in 27 games for the Fire last season.

He has already played three times for Colombia and now becomes the second Chicago Fire teenager to switch from MLS to the English Premier League, following Gabriel Slonina, who joined Chelsea for $15 million in August.

Chicago Fire forward Jhon Duran to join Aston Villa in the English Premier League for $22 million

He follows his former teammate Gabriel Slonina, who traded from the Fire for the Premier League last year.

ESPN reports that the deal to get him to Birmingham, England is worth a guaranteed $18 million, with $4 million there for performance-related add-ons.

Colombian side Envigado, where the teenager began his career, are also owed a percentage of the transfer fee.

in a statement confirming the move Aston Villa said that “the deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms and obtaining the necessary work visa.”

The 19-year-old becomes the second Fire teenager to travel to England, after Gabriel Slonina.

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has beaten the competition from Liverpool and Chelsea for Duran

If the deal goes smoothly, Durán’s move would become one of the three biggest in MLS history.

His $22 million trade would match the fee Bayern Munich paid the Vancouver Whitecaps for full-back Alphonso Davies.

But it would fall short of the $26m Newcastle United paid to sign Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United in 2019.

Duran has been closely watched by a host of English Premier League teams, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Liverpool previously sent the same scout to keep an eye on Duran who spotted compatriot Luis Diaz at Porto before joining the Reds, according to reports from Colombia.

In December Duran was on the cover of the Portuguese newspaper Record, amid interest

He was also believed to be looking for him by Portuguese team Benfica, and he was featured on the front page of Record, a newspaper in Portugal, in December when interest increased.

“He’s a player who, once he has it all together, can be a very, very special player,” Fire coach Ezra Hendrickson once said of the striker. He has all the tools.

In January 2021, Fire sporting director Georg Heitz described Duran as “really gifted”.

“He’s not only physically interesting, especially if you consider his age, but also technically, he’s really good in front of goal, he’s good in the box, he’s smart, he’s quick on his feet.” A raw talent, but really gifted’, said Heitz the athletic.

Durán is currently away with the Colombia national team as part of the 2023 South American Under-20 Championship.