In a dramatic and unexpected twist, West Ham are reportedly closing in on a £25 million deal to sign former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz — a move that’s sending shockwaves through the Premier League and is likely to sting for Villa fans.
The Brazilian star could be on his way back to England in a deal that’s developed rapidly and under the radar. Given their own struggles with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), West Ham may be following a path familiar to Aston Villa — both clubs have felt the financial squeeze this summer.
West Ham’s reluctance to inject £90 million in shareholder funds (allowed under PSR) has raised eyebrows, with some critics accusing the ownership of using PSR as an excuse not to spend. So far, Graham Potter hasn’t been backed with a single signing, despite talk of an “exciting and interesting” summer window.
But that narrative could be shifting.
Last month, Aston Villa managed to avoid selling a key player by offloading their women’s team to meet PSR requirements. That scuppered West Ham’s potential move for Jacob Ramsey, who was widely reported as a target. Meanwhile, the Hammers raised crucial funds by offloading Mohammed Kudus to rivals Spurs for £54.5 million — a move that upset fans but may now fund reinforcements.
With midfield reinforcements needed urgently, West Ham are now said to be “close on” a £25m deal for ex-Aston Villa star Luiz. The midfielder was one of Villa’s PSR casualties, having joined Juventus for £42 million last summer — a move that reportedly helped Villa avoid deeper sanctions.
Though some reports had linked Luiz with a return to Villa Park this window, La Gazzetta dello Sport now claims the Hammers are pushing hard to bring him to London. According to their report, West Ham have intensified talks with Juventus, working toward a £5 million loan deal that includes a £20–23 million obligation to buy.
Juventus News, quoting La Gazzetta, says there’s growing belief that the deal is “well-organised and can be closed,” structured as a paid loan tied to appearances or specific performance goals.
While Luiz doesn’t exactly match the youthful profile typically targeted by Graham Potter and recruitment chief Kyle Macaulay, few would argue against the proven quality he would bring to the squad.
Still, fans are advised to take the report with caution — the links have come suddenly, and no major UK-based sources have confirmed the move. Yet, as La Gazzetta puts it: “The deal appears to be nearing completion.”
