Chelsea consider Douglas Luiz loan in shock January transfer hijack

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Evening Standard

·22 January 2026

Chelsea consider Douglas Luiz loan in shock January transfer hijack

Midfielder is struggling for game time at current loan club

Chelsea are considering hijacking Nottingham Forest's loan deal for Douglas Luiz and signing the Juventus midfielder on loan until the end of the season.

The 27-year-old Brazilian has played only 13 appearances for Forest and Standard Sport understands that his situation has alerted Chelsea to the possibility of signing him.

They have been in talks with Rennes over signing centre-back Jeremy Jacquet but are also looking to boost their midfield options either this month or in the summer and may move for Luiz, who would add temporary depth in central midfield.

Options in that position have been limited this season by injuries to Romeo Lavia and summer signing Dario Essugo.

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Luiz is currently on loan at the City Ground, but has struggled with injury and for regular game time since Sean Dyche arrived to replace Nuno Espirito Santo.

Luiz is formerly of Manchester City and Aston Villa, and left Villa Park in 2024 to join Juve for a reported £42.35million, with Villa needing cash to abide by Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

He has played 27 times for the Serie A outfit since joining, but he moved to Forest last summer in search of more regular first-team football.

He has been an unused substitute for Forest’s last two games: the 2-1 win at West Ham and a goalless draw at home with league leaders Arsenal.