Douglas Luiz - back at Juventus

[Mellin]

He just plays in the wrong position and is the wrong age. Was absolutely fine and would be confident with him here next season, but the cruel truth is we don't need him and need to be smart with investments.

Still and always will love him though. Glad he was here for that.

[LeeS]

If he loves it here so much then maybe he’d take a pay cut to return. It wouldn’t t surprise me to see him back again later in the summer. But that depends on what other business we get done

[Mellin]

Yeah, squeeze Juve for another loan. Sounds like a plan.

[womble]

"Aston Villa opt against making Douglas Luiz transfer permanent"

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7317659/2026/05/29/aston-villa-douglas-luiz-permanent-transfer/

"Douglas Luiz is expected to return to Juventus after Aston Villa decided against triggering the €25million option to sign the midfielder permanently.

The 28-year-old joined Villa for a second time in January, initially on loan until the end of the season. As part of the agreement, Villa had the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

However, the Brazil international is instead set to return to parent club Juventus and begin pre-season under head coach Luciano Spalletti.

Douglas Luiz signed for Villa after Unai Emery was left short of midfield options, due to injuries to Boubacar Kamara, Youri Tielemans and John McGinn.

Villa covered Douglas Luiz’s full salary after it was agreed he would cut short his previous loan at Nottingham Forest and spend the rest of the campaign back at Villa, having left for Juventus in July 2024.

Despite offering crucial squad depth, Douglas Luiz found regular game-time difficult once players returned from injury and ended the campaign down the pecking order, with players such as Lamare Bogarde and Victor Lindelof offering depth in midfield.

Douglas Luiz made 20 appearances under Emery in the second half of the campaign, scoring once."

[brontebilly]

I thought he was decent when he came back, given he was thrown straight in at a time when  we were really struggling, and he was hardly at full fitness. He was conspicuous in trying to make things happen during that difficult spell, when we were without Kamara, McGinn and Tielemans, and I thought he was improving game by game.

I completely agree.  I think his wages are probably the big blocker in an position where we are relatively deep compared to other areas of the pitch

When Barkley came in from the cold to start ahead of him at Old Trafford that was kind of it for Dougie. Was an odd one at the time as Barkley hadn't started a PL game in a very long time and Luiz was just starting to show some of his old form. Barkley scored that day and started v West Ham after. Tielemans came back from injury soon after agai and that was it for Dougie. He was unfortunate as he had decent cameos off the bench in that time (Fulham, Forest) but obviously didn't convince Emery. Maybe half a yard short of the fitness required to play in a midfield two at our level (not that Barkley has it!). Maybe signs were there when we went all out to get Gallagher in and failed, Luiz was a long way down the priority list. I was all for getting him in but last summer would have been better.

[pauliewalnuts]

I like him in the way he seems really to want to be here but let’s be honest, he hasn’t shown anything like enough to suggest he’s worth the fee and wages he’d cost us.

[ldavfc4eva]

Always will like Dougie, sits well in the middle and has a certain quality about him

Another loan or a cut rate transfer (£15m) and I would have him in the squad all day long

[Brazilian Villain]

I like him in the way he seems really to want to be here but let’s be honest, he hasn’t shown anything like enough to suggest he’s worth the fee and wages he’d cost us.

That seems fair enough.

[eamonn]

Dunno, he didn't really get a run of starts to show his quality.

[pauliewalnuts]

Dunno, he didn't really get a run of starts to show his quality.

Maybe he hadn't shown enough in training to earn that right?

[algy]

Glad he picked up a medal with us.

Best of luck for the future, Dougie. Always welcome back.

[eamonn]

He's a far better player than Bogarde, regardless of training efforts but Dougie is battling against Youri. Lamare has a semi-crocked Kamara (and a revived Lindelof) to share duties with.