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By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER Published: 05: 24 AEDT, 29 January 2026 | Updated: 06: 51 AEDT, 29 January 2026 19 View comments Aston Villa have confirmed the return of Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus until the end of the season. The midfielder's loan to Nottingham Forest, where he has spent the first half of the season, has been cancelled. Unai Emery's side will have the option to buy the 27-year-old Brazilian at the end of the season. 'Welcome back, Dougie, ' the club wrote. Luiz was wanted by Villa, Chelsea and clubs in La Liga but chose to return to the club he made 204 appearances between 2019 and 2024. Villa sold him to Juventus for £42. 5million in 2024 to help solve their profit and sustainability problems but he failed to break through in Turin. Aston Villa have sealed the return of Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus to see out the season He previously helped them qualify for the Champions League; now he joins a title challenge Villa needed a midfielder after Youri Tielemans joined their list of injured midfield absentees Luiz arrives at one of the most exciting times in Villa's history, with the Midlands outfit in genuine contention for the Premier League title. They sit just four points behind leaders Arsenal, having been propelled by a seven-game league winning streak which ended on December 30. Villa took three points from their two matches against Arsenal and beat Manchester City 1-0 at home in October. Their reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium comes on the final day of the season. Luiz was a pivotal part of the Villa side which finished fourth in 2023-24, though his move to Juventus means he did not get to enjoy Champions League football with the Villans. His arrival is a major boost given that Villa are facing a midfield injury crisis. Daily Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Youri Tielemans had suffered an ankle injury and now he faces a spell on the sidelines. They are already without Boubacar Kamara, who is set to miss the remainder of the campaign. Like Kamara, skipper John Mc Ginn has a knee injury and though his is less severe, he will still be absent for at least a month. Luiz was on loan at Nottingham Forest for the first half of the campaign as a bit-part player Given that Tielemans is the third first-choice midfielder to join the injury list, Villa were keen to get a signing over the line. Forest would have had to buy Luiz permanently for about £23m if he had made 15 appearances of at least 45 minutes each, but they were reluctant to do so. Villa will be glad to beat Champions League rivals Chelsea to his signature, though the Blues are nine points behind in fifth. Daily Mail Sport reported last week how Chelsea had made an enquiry over a loan deal.
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