Douglas Luiz will stay at Aston Villa until 2026 (Photo: Aston Villa)
Douglas Luiz has signed a new long-term contract with Aston Villa just months after he nearly moved to Arsenal.
The Gunners suddenly moved for Luiz on deadline day, amidst a small injury crisis that had left them short of defensive midfielders.
Arsenal would make three bids for the 24-year-old in all, the last worth a reported £25million, but Villa rejected the approach, holding out for £40m for the player who had been a key part of the side since his 2019 move from Manchester City.
It is said that Luiz was interested in the move, but after the transfer collapsed, Villa boss Steven Gerrard said that the Brazilian international ‘understood and respected’ the club’s decision to keep him.
However, with the Villans struggling near the bottom of the table, many expected Luiz to push for an exit from Villa Park in January, or wait for his contract to expire come next summer.
But on Friday, it was announced that he had signed a new deal with the club to remain in the West Midlands until 2026, telling Villa TV: ‘I’m so happy. Yesterday I say I’m so happy in this club.
‘I love the people here, the staff, the players, I’m so comfortable here and I’m so happy.
Luiz scored directly from a corner against Arsenal – just a day before the Gunners tried to buy him (Photo: Reuters)
‘[I signed my new deal] because I love this club, this club opened the door for me to come here to England and play in the Premier League.
‘The club has given me the space and I’m so happy, because I’m staying here and my choice is here.’
Luiz has made 120 appearances for Villa so far, helping the club reach the League Cup final in 2020, where they lost 2-1 to his former side City.
Villa will next be in action on Sunday when they host Chelsea, and Luiz will be aiming to turnaround his side’s form that has left them with just two wins from their nine games of the season.
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The Gunners bid three times for Luiz on deadline day.