DOUGLAS LUIZ has completed a transfer to Juventus from Aston Villa, the club have confirmed.
Luiz, 26, signed for Villa from Manchester City for £15million in 2019.
But after five seasons at the club, Luiz has now left to join Italian giants Juventus and may soon be followed by glamorous girlfriend and Aston Villa Women’s star Alisha Lehmann.
The Old Lady announced that Luiz had signed a deal until 2029.
The Brazilian midfielder made more than 200 appearances in all competitions for the Clarets, while scoring 22 goals and 24 goals.
And it is expected that Luiz will soon be joined in Turin by Lehmann as she joins Juventus Women.
However, Villa will also land Juventus pair Samuel Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea in a separate double deal worth £22m.
Luiz shared a video online announcing his move.
He said: “Hello Juventini. I’m really happy to be a bianconero and I can’t wait to play in the Allianz Stadium.
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“See you soon and Forza Juve!”
The protracted deal was thrashed out by Villa’s President of Football Operations, Monchi and Director of Football Damian Vidagany after weeks of tough negotiations.
Luiz is the third and biggest sale Villa have made this summer and means they have now raised £82m in transfer sales since the end of the season.
Academy starlets Omari Kellyman and Tim Iroegbunam were sold to Chelsea for £19m and Everton for £13m respectively.
Monchi and Vidagany have also snapped up Chelsea’s Dutch international left-back Ian Maatsen for £37m as well as Everton’s Lewis Dobbin for £9m.
Meanwhile Douglas Luiz’s replacement, Ross Barkley is expected to complete his £5m move from Luton Town later this week.
It has been a time of frantic activity by Villa as Unai Emery looks to beef up his squad for next season’s Champions League campaign.
Juventus – aware of Villa’s need to satisfy PSR regulations – made their move for the 26-year-old, who still had two years remaining on his current Villa deal.
Nottingham Forest
Deducted four points during the 2023-24 season for breaching Premier League spending limit by £34.563m. Failed in their appeal with decision upheld.
Everton
Initial 10-point deduction for 2021-22 Premier League breaches reduced to six points on appeal. Were deducted a further two points later in the 2023-24 season. Appealed, but since withdrawn following Prem survival.
Sheffield United
Hit with a two-point deduction for their finances during the 2022-23 EFL season. Will begin the 2024-25 Championship season on -2 points following their relegation from the Prem.
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Manchester City
Etihad club emphatically denies the 115 allegations laid against them in February 2023. The lengthy Commission case has been scheduled to start in October or November but a final decision is not expected until March or April 2025.
Chelsea
Blues chiefs flagged up illicit payments made to agents and others during the Roman Abramovich era. Fined £8.6m by Uefa but still to be formally charged by the Prem despite an ongoing investigation.
Leicester
Foxes breached Prem PSR loss limits last season but did not have to report their 2022-23 accounts until this month because of their relegation. That puts the timetable back and means that they will probably face a Prem points deduction for the 2024-25 season following their return to the top flight.
Everton (again)
The Toffees are again at risk of breaking PSR rules and are in a race against time to raise funds and balance the books. Not only could that lead to another charge but also administration. That would lead to an automatic nine-point deduction for the 2024/25 season.
Luiz could even face his old club in the Champions’ League next season after Juventus qualified in Pot 2, while Villa will be in Pot 4.
Villa felt they could cash in on Luiz after reaching an agreement with Barkley as they also have Youri Tielemans and a fit-again Boubacar Kamara to turn to next season.
The club had earlier sent a proposal to their fellow Premier League clubs, suggesting the PSR limit on losses be increased from £105million to £135m over a three year period.
However their proposal failed to gain sufficient support.
Luiz is currently on international duty with Brazil in the Copa America, where girlfriend Lehmann is cheering him on.
He was an unused substitute for his nations first game against Costa Rice, before playing for 18 minutes of their 4-1 win over Paraguay.
Swiss star, Lehmann, played 15 games for Aston Villa Women last season, scoring two goals, while also adding two goals in the FA WSL Cup.
The 25-year-old has a following of 16.6 million on Instagram, dwarfing Aston Villa’s 3.9 million followers.
She is often seen sharing glamorous posts of her holidays and evening outings.
Luiz and Lehmann got back together around New Year’s Eve after a sour break up in 2022.
They were pictured ringing in 2024 together with a loved-up Instagram post.
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