Aston Villa open talks to sign “powerful” £13m star, he could be Emery’s next Duran – opinion
Aston Villa Avoid PSR Penalty as Transfer Focus Shifts to Attacking Reinforcements
On Monday—purely by coincidence falling on the final day of their financial year—Aston Villa completed a move that raised eyebrows across the football world. The club sold its women’s team to an entity essentially owned by themselves, a transaction strategically executed to comply with the Premier League’s stringent Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). This clever accounting maneuver helped Villa dodge what could have been a serious consequence: a potential points deduction heading into the 2025/26 season.
With financial concerns momentarily eased, attention at Villa Park can now shift fully to the transfer market. Manager Unai Emery, having guided Villa back into European competition, is eager to strengthen his squad—particularly in the attacking department. And that raises the question: could Villa be preparing to welcome a new striker in the coming weeks?
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Villa Eyeing Offensive Firepower
If Villa are to bring in another striker, recent history suggests they’ll be looking for a gem. One need look no further than the remarkable case of Jhon Durán, whose transfer journey ranks among the most profitable in recent Premier League history.
Durán joined Villa from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023 for a modest fee reported to be around £13 million. At the time, many questioned the price tag, considering he had only made 27 appearances for the American club, scoring eight goals. However, Durán quickly silenced any doubters. Following an explosive start to last season in the Premier League, the Colombian earned a lucrative move to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr in January 2025. The reported transfer fee? A staggering £71 million—a nearly 600% return on investment. Not only was it a smart piece of business, but it also provided Villa with vital financial breathing room under PSR constraints.
Durán’s rise—and subsequent move—was one of the more unexpected and fascinating storylines in recent football memory. And now, despite scoring an impressive 12 goals in just 18 appearances in the Saudi Pro League, reports suggest the 20-year-old is on the move again—this time to Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahçe, now managed by none other than José Mourinho.
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Villa’s Next Durán? Spotlight on Semih Kılıçsoy
With Durán gone and goals still needed, Villa appear to be targeting another emerging talent to lead the line. According to TurkishFootball.com, the West Midlands club are currently in negotiations with Beşiktaş over the potential signing of teenage striker Semih Kılıçsoy. The reported valuation for the 19-year-old stands at €15 million (around £13 million)—ironically, the same amount Villa originally paid for Durán.
Interestingly, Beşiktaş have just signed former Chelsea and Roma forward Tammy Abraham from AC Milan for that exact amount. The England international has even taken Kılıçsoy’s iconic number nine shirt, further hinting at an imminent departure for the Turkish starlet.
Turkish journalist Fırat Günayer added fuel to the speculation, stating he would be “surprised” if Kılıçsoy remained at the club beyond the summer window. He confirmed that “a few offers” are currently on the table for the player, suggesting a deal may not be far off.
So, could we soon see Kılıçsoy swapping the shores of the Bosphorus for the Birmingham skyline?
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Kılıçsoy’s Credentials: A Striker on the Rise
Semih Kılıçsoy has emerged as one of Turkey’s brightest young prospects in recent years. Having joined Beşiktaş’s academy at the age of 11, he made his senior debut in February 2023 in a Süper Lig match against Antalyaspor. Later that year, in July, he opened his scoring account for the first team in a UEFA Europa Conference League qualifier against KF Tirana.
Since then, he has gone from strength to strength. Now boasting 16 goals in 85 appearances for the Turkish giants, Kılıçsoy was instrumental in Beşiktaş’s Türkiye Kupası (Turkish Cup) triumph in 2024. One of his standout moments came in a Europa League group stage match last November, when he scored a crucial goal in a 2-1 win over Malmö at the Tüpraş Stadium.
Kılıçsoy’s domestic performances didn’t go unnoticed on the international stage. He made his senior debut for Türkiye in June 2025 during a friendly against Italy in Bologna, and was subsequently selected by manager Vincenzo Montella to be part of Turkey’s squad for the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.
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What the Experts Say
Kılıçsoy has already earned glowing praise from football analysts. Ben Mattinson describes him as a “very powerful” forward with a natural eye for goal. Meanwhile, Luis Kircher of Total Football Analysis highlights the young striker’s “lethal finishing capabilities” and his “versatility” across the front line, suggesting he is capable of evolving into a prolific goalscorer at the elite level.
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Drawing Parallels: Kılıçsoy vs. Durán
Looking at their career paths so far, Kılıçsoy shares some striking similarities with Jhon Durán at the time of his arrival in England. In fact, the Turkish forward has actually recorded more senior appearances and minutes played than Durán had prior to joining Villa. Their goal tallies are nearly identical, and Kılıçsoy arguably plays in a more competitive league—the Turkish Süper Lig, ranked 18th globally by the Global Football Rankings. For comparison, Durán had experience in Colombia’s Categoría Primera A (32nd) and MLS (9th), which, while respectable, offer different styles and challenges.
Importantly, both players exhibit the “selfish” streak that often distinguishes top strikers—a trait Mattinson noted in both. Kılıçsoy’s hunger for goals, combined with his technical ability and physicality, makes him an ideal candidate to lead the line in Emery’s system.
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A New Star in the Making?
Should Aston Villa complete the signing, Semih Kılıçsoy would likely arrive as a relative unknown to many Premier League fans—just as Durán did not long ago. But with the right guidance under Unai Emery, the 19-year-old could flourish into the next breakout star at Villa Park.
Villa’s shrewd business model—buying low and selling high—is proving effective. With European football and a well-respected manager in place, the club is fast becoming a destination for young talent eager to take the next big step.
And if history is any indicator, Kılıçsoy might just be the latest name to light up Villa Park.