Jhon Durán has impressed for Aston Villa this season, scoring five goals from eight games in all competitions.
The striker is in contention to feature against Bayern Munich at Villa Park on Wednesday.
Ahead of the Champions League tie, Bild have covered the Aston Villa player’s journey so far. He joined the Villans from MLS side Chicago Fire FC in January 2023.
The 20-year-old arrived at the American club from Colombian side Envigado in January 2022. Chicago Fire technical director Sebastian Pelzer has revealed he came across Durán when scouting another player in Colombia.
“You could see straight away that Jhon was an exceptional talent. He had a lot of pace and a massive stature. Even back then he had a profile for English football,” he said.
“We really had to step on the gas. But we knew that we could dominate the market with his commitment.”
Bild claim the German director had to work hard for his side to secure the frontman’s services. The bet paid off as the Colombia international ended up attracting interest from several clubs.
“No wonder other clubs had been watching him for a long time,” Pelzer explained.
According to the report, Atlético Madrid, AC Milan and Benfica were among the clubs who wanted the player. On Tuesday, Jeunes Footeux stated Marseille tried to sign the 20-year-old before he moved to Aston Villa.
The director has now backed the Aston Villa star to have a bright future ahead.
“You can’t tell a better story about a player. If Jhon stays on the ground, he can still achieve a lot. His talent and goal instinct are incredible,” he added.
