Aston Villa Struggling To Buy Midfielder Permanently: Should They Pay €30m? | OneFootball

Aston Villa brought Douglas Luiz back on loan from Juventus in January 2026, but the reunion has done little to justify paying the €25m to keep him this summer. The 27-year-old Brazilian came off the bench during Villa’s 4–0 Europa League semi-final win over Nottingham Forest on 7 May, but his bit-part role spoke volumes.

Douglas Luiz’s Aston Villa return looks set to end in disappointment

He hasn’t started a game since the 2–0 victory over Lille in March, as Unai Emery has stuck with other options in midfield. Across loan spells at both Forest and Villa this season, Luiz has managed just one goal in 21 appearances, numbers that are a far cry from the standards he once set at Villa Park.

He previously spent five great seasons at the club, including a 10-goal, 10-assist campaign in 2023–24, making his current slump even more obvious. While his set-pieces and passing range once made him a focal point, his fitness and consistency have fallen off a cliff since moving to Turin.

Dealing with three different managers at Forest this season didn’t help either, with the constant coaching changes clearly messing with his rhythm. Over in Italy, Calciomercato reports that Juventus now view Luiz as almost impossible to sell, especially since he still carries a €30m book value despite his initial €50m price tag. It’s a situation starting to look a lot like their struggle with Arthur Melo, who has been sent on four different loans since his big-money move from Barcelona.

Should Aston Villa take the risk and sign Douglas Luiz permanently this summer?

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Noah Edjouma of LOSC Lille is challenged by Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Lille OSC at Villa Park on March 19, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

Aston Villa should pass on the €25m option; the facts simply don’t make a case for the move. Luiz’s second stint at B6 hasn’t been convincing, and the fact that he’s barely playing shows that Emery has his doubts. For a club aiming for Europe in 2026–27, every squad member needs to be reliable and high-energy, and Luiz just isn’t hitting those marks right now.

Bringing back a former fan favourite is a nice idea, but spending €25m on a player who can’t get into the starting eleven is bad business. Aston Villa would be better off letting the loan expire and finding a midfielder who can actually change the game.