Aston Villa’s decision to retain Jhon Duran has proven to be a brilliant move, as the striker has fulfilled Xherdan Shaqiri’s expectations from their time at Chicago Fire.
The 20-year-old secured his place in Villa history with a clever lob over Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, leading to a significant 1-0 victory in the Champions League on Wednesday night. The Colombian has a remarkable ability to score key goals as a substitute, having already helped Unai Emery’s team achieve four wins from the bench this season.
A night 42 years in the making, Villa’s clash with Bayern marked their first meeting since the Villans’ European Cup victory in 1982. Though players like Emi Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, and Jaden Philogene delivered heroic performances, it was ultimately Villa’s number nine who decided the match.
Duran’s rise has been remarkable, having been relatively unknown when he joined from Chicago Fire for £14.75 million in January 2023—a significant amount after just one MLS season. However, former Liverpool and Bayern winger Shaqiri, who has played alongside stars like Mohammed Salah and Thomas Muller, recognized Duran’s potential during their time together at the Fire.
In an interview with The Athletic in November 2022, Shaqiri endorsed Duran’s natural talent: “He’s still very young and has much to learn, but he’s a great player,” he stated. “He has the qualities to play for a good club in Europe eventually. When? He needs more playing time.”
“That’s important for a young player to get better. If you go to Europe and don’t play so much, it can be difficult. We know in Europe it’s another level. There are issues you have to deal with. He’s a talent. I hope one day he’ll make that step and show himself in Europe.”
Earlier that year, after Duran scored twice against Toronto, two-time Champions League winner Shaqiri offered valuable advice: “He needs to remain consistent and stay alert, learning from his performances, including what didn’t go well,” he said. “It’s crucial for him to work hard in training and during matches to deliver results.”
Chicago Fire manager Ezra Hendrickson also expressed strong optimism for Duran, saying, “He’s a player who, once he puts it all together, can become truly special. He has all the necessary skills.”
Shaqiri’s initial instinct is proving correct, as Duran is now making his mark in both the Premier League and on Europe’s biggest stage, despite appearing set to leave this summer. Villa later revealed that an incredible 40 clubs had expressed interest in the forward, and his goal against Bayern Munich highlighted why he’s regarded as an exceptional talent.
Duran began his career at Envigado, debuting as a 15-year-old. By 2021, Chicago Fire made headlines by signing him as the youngest foreign player in MLS history, although he spent another year in Colombia before heading to the US. He scored eight league goals, contributing once every 105 minutes, and earned his Colombia debut at 18, coming on for Radamel Falcao.
Emery has been developing Duran’s skills and intends to take a patient approach with Villa’s number nine, especially with Ollie Watkins in front of him. Following Duran’s impressive goal against Bayern, Emery noted that he arrived here two years ago and, being so young, his potential is immense.
“Sometimes he has been impatient and I need to speak to him as a person and connect to him as a person. As well as a player to try to let him play, putting him on the field because his talent is there and the capacity to help us.”
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