Winter 25-26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[KevinGage]

Keep Bailey.

Mebbe swap Guessand for a few tracksuits and a can of WD40.

[Crown Hill]

Aston Villa beat Chelsea to signing of Douglas Luiz
Exclusive: Brazil international returns to Unai Emery’s side as Nottingham Forest loan is cancelled

Chief Football Correspondent
Jason Burt
27 January 2026 1:01pm GMT
 
Aston Villa have beaten Chelsea to sign midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The Brazil international made it clear that he wanted to return to Villa, with his loan agreement with Nottingham Forest cancelled and another loan move finalised on Tuesday morning.

The 27-year-old made more than 200 appearances for Villa between 2019 and 2024, and has turned down the chance to sign for clubs in La Liga to go back to Villa Park.

Luiz has been on loan at Forest from Serie A side Juventus and missed part of the season through a hamstring injury.

He joined Juventus from Villa for €50m (£42.3m) in 2024.

Villa have moved for Luiz, who is delighted to return to the club, after an injury to Boubacar Kamara – who is set to miss the rest of the season – and with Youri Tielemans ruled out for an expected eight weeks with an ankle knock sustained in the win over Newcastle United. Unai Emery’s side are also without captain John McGinn for several weeks, also through injury.

[RamboandBruno]

I think Bailey showed more in 20 odds mins in Newcastle than Guessand has been able to all season.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd be keeping Leon, we are gagging for a bit of pace on the break. In any case, he can't play for any other team until summer now, same as Elliott. Unless he goes to a Summer League like MLS.

Yep Leon has to stay for a variety of reasons.

[VILLA MOLE]

Doug only 27 , in his prime

[PeterWithe]

Might aswell get Ramsey back too. What's Snodgrass at these days?

Has his own weekly internet radio show, where he talks football and real ale. Snodcast.

This makes me happy. More footballers should use their retirement this productively. It’s too perfect.

He’s seemingly an agent nowadays.  I just wanted to make the Snodcast pun.

https://uk.linkedin.com/in/robert-snodgrass-787a3a316

As well you might, as well you might. I liked it.

[andyh]

Onana, Luiz, Bogarde, Buendia, Barkley as a midfield group isn’t too bad for the next 6 or so weeks.

[brontebilly]

Could we offload Bailey or Guessand to try and bring another CDM in?

Keep Bailey, I've a feeling he might do alright for us down the stretch.

[Gerrin]

Doug only 27 , in his prime

I had to check his age, and must admit I had no idea he was still so young. Plenty of years left in him.

[Duncan Shaw]

Could we offload Bailey or Guessand to try and bring another CDM in?

Keep Bailey, I've a feeling he might do alright for us down the stretch.

We've no choice but to keep him now, having played him on Sunday he cannot play for another club this season.

[TheToffnar]

Really hope we're not getting absolutely fucked on the terms here

[Hookeysmith]

I think Bailey showed more in 20 odds mins in Newcastle than Guessand has been able to all season.

Guessand has 2 goals for us and i think an assist?

Look how bang average Tielemans and Bailey were when they first started - my only concern would be the £30m but Professor Emery knows a player when he sees one

[Des Little]

Onana, Luiz, Bogarde, Buendia, Barkley as a midfield group isn’t too bad for the next 6 or so weeks.

I hope we've negotiated something to add Elliott to that list

[Drummond]

Really hope we're not getting absolutely fucked on the terms here

We won't be.

[OCD]

Apparently Nas gets on well with the Juve owners.