Aston Villa has secured a new long-term contract with Jhon Duran, following his impressive start to the season, as the club announced on Monday. The 20-year-old striker reportedly agreed to personal terms with West Ham during the summer transfer window. He has now committed to staying at Villa Park until 2030.

Jhon Duran has been in remarkable form this season. He scored six goals despite starting only once across all competitions. One of his standout performances came last week.

Interestingly, this was where he netted the decisive goal in Villa’s 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League. His ability to significantly impact with limited game time has not gone unnoticed.

The Colombian international joined Aston Villa in January 2023 after a successful stint with MLS club Chicago Fire. In his debut Premier League season, he scored five goals in 23 appearances. Furthermore, most of the goals were from the bench. His adaptability and knack for finding the back of the net quickly earned him recognition as a rising talent.

Jhon Durán. 2030. Aston Villa. pic.twitter.com/Q2HAoFuIV5

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 7, 2024

Villa manager Unai Emery has been vocal about believing in Duran’s abilities. After the win against Bayern, Emery expressed his confidence in the young forward’s future. He described his potential as “huge.”

“Sometimes he has been impatient and I need to speak to him as a person and connect to him as a person,” he said.

“As well as a player to try to let him play, putting him on the field because his talent is there and the capacity to help us.”

Duran’s skill set, work ethic, and ability to perform in high-pressure moments make him a key asset for the club. Moreover, this stands as they compete on multiple fronts this season.

By securing Duran on a long-term deal, Aston Villa is clearly investing in his development, anticipating that he will play a major role in their future successes. His rapid rise since arriving at Villa Park has turned heads, and fans will be eager to see how he continues to evolve in the coming years.

Naomi Osaka, the 26-year-old four-time Grand Slam champion, announced her withdrawal from the upcoming Japan Open tournament on Monday. Her recent back injury, which forced her to retire during the China Open in Beijing, prevents her participation in her home country’s event.

The Japan Tennis Association released a statement confirming Osaka will not compete in the WTA 250 tournament, scheduled for October 14th-20th in the city of Osaka.

Osaka had displayed impressive form at the China Open last week, securing three consecutive victories. However, during her round-of-16 match against Coco Gauff, who eventually won the tournament, Osaka’s back injury compelled her to retire after the second set concluded.

The former world number one’s withdrawal disappoints fans who looked forward to seeing her compete on home soil. Despite her strong performance early in the Beijing tournament, Osaka prioritizes her recovery to prevent further injury complications.

Sunshine Stars coach Kennedy Boboye, aged 50, has taken legal action against his former club, Heartland. He is seeking to recover an outstanding debt of 19 million naira (₦19,000,000) owed to him.

The Naze Millionaires appointed Boboye, a two-time Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) champion, as their head coach in November 2023. This followed the dismissal of Christian Obi due to the team’s poor performance. At his appointment, Heartland had endured a nine-game winless streak.

Under Boboye’s leadership, the Owerri-based club made significant progress. They secured three wins and one draw in seven matches. Despite this improvement, Kennedy Boboye was later dismissed. This was after Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma ordered the reinstatement of Christian Obi as head coach.

DEVELOPING STORY: Coach Kennedy Boboye has initiated legal proceedings against Heartland due to an outstanding debt of nineteen million naira (19,000,000) that the club owes him.

The two-time NPFL winner was dismissed by the Naze Millionaires just a month after his appointment,… pic.twitter.com/9CpPKwrLeJ

— Shina Oludare 🇳🇬 (@sportingshina) October 2, 2024