Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr are set to complete the signing of Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran in a deal reported to be worth £64.5 million.
The 21-year-old Colombian was an unused substitute in Villa's Uefa Champions League win over Celtic on Wednesday and was spotted saying goodbye to fans after the match.
Duran is reported to be undergoing a medical in London ahead of his proposed switch to join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Aymeric Laporte and Sadio Mane at the SPL club.
Duran started his career at Colombian side Envigado before moving to the United States to join Chicago Fire for £1.5m at the start of 2022.
A year later, after scoring eight times in 27 Major League Soccer appearances, Villa came calling and he moved to England in a £14.75m deal with potential £3m in add-ons.
Duran has mostly been used as an impact substitute during his spell at the Midlands club but has still managed to score 28 times in 78 appearances, including 12 in 29 this season.
He was named Villa's Player of the Month for September when he also won the Premier League Goal of the Month for his long-range strike that secured a 3-2 victory against Everton.
Villa's Premier League rivals West Ham United have been linked with a move for Duran – who has scored two goals in 15 appearances for his country – since last summer while Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have also been credited with an interest.
But the player has decided on a move to the kingdom where he joins a side fourth in the SPL table, ahead of taking on Al Raed on Thursday night.
Nassr have also qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite last 16 with two games still to play in the group stage.
After Villa's victory over Celtic on Wednesday, which secured their place in the competition's last 16, manager Unai Emery admitted Duran could be leaving and insisted the deal was good for the club.
“I don’t know exactly until everything is done if Jhon Duran is leaving but if he is leaving it is good news for us because it means they are paying good money,” the Spanish coach said.
“Because we have developed one young player in two years to get this offer. It is not only for the club, it is the club, the players and team, those circumstances can be positive.”
“If he is leaving it is because he prefers to do another way in his career. If he is leaving, of course, it is because he wants to."
While Emery accepts Duran's exit as being good business, he made it very clear that wants fellow striker Ollie Watkins to remain at the club.
Villa turned down a bid of £60m from Arsenal for the England international who has been a key player in the club's rise up the Premier League table.
The 29-year-old has 81 goals in 201 appearances since joining from Brentford in 2020. His assist in the draw against West Ham on Sunday took him to 100 Premier League goal contributions.
“I don't want [to sell],” said Emery after the Celtic match. “It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad.
“Every player can be in the market if it is good for the player and the club. To get this deal we are going to be demanding. Watkins is our striker.”
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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UAE rugby in numbers
5 - Year sponsorship deal between Hesco and Jebel Ali Dragons
700 - Dubai Hurricanes had more than 700 playing members last season between their mini and youth, men's and women's teams
Dh600,000 - Dubai Exiles' budget for pitch and court hire next season, for their rugby, netball and cricket teams
Dh1.8m - Dubai Hurricanes' overall budget for next season
Dh2.8m - Dubai Exiles’ overall budget for next season
Biog:
Age: 34
Favourite superhero: Batman
Favourite sport: anything extreme
Favourite person: Muhammad Ali
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
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Result
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2.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,800m; Winner: Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh85,000 1,600m; Winner: Native Appeal, Adam McLean, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh115,000 1,950m; Winner: Conclusion, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh100,000 1,400m; Winner: Pilgrim’s Treasure, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
4.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,400m; Winner: Sanad Libya, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
