Manchester City pocket £8.5 million windfall in latest summer cash boost

Manchester City have pocketed a major sum of money from Aston Villa’s surprise sale of midfielder Douglas Luiz.

The 26-year-old has completed a €50 million move from Aston Villa to Juventus, departing the Midlands after a five-year stay at Villa Park, where the Brazilian made over 200 appearances for the club.

Luiz moved to Aston Villa from Manchester City in 2019, after Etihad bosses failed to secure a work permit for the midfielder, following his arrival in east Manchester as a teenager from Vasco Da Gama in 2017.

The Brazilian is currently competing at the Copa America in the United States, and played a key role in Unai Emery’s side qualifying for the UEFA Champions League during the recent campaign, with 20 direct goal involvements across 53 appearances.

Luiz played in 35 Premier League matches for Aston Villa during the 2023/24 season, scoring five goals and registering five assists.

The 26-year-old never featured for Manchester City, however upon signing for Aston Villa for £15 million, the deal to Villa Park also included a 20% future sell-on clause, allowing Etihad bosses to make further profit.

Manchester City, who already made £20 million from the sale of Taylor Harwood-Bellis to Southampton following the Saints’ promotion to the Premier League, have earned more millions as a result of Juventus’ purchase of Luiz.

ManchesterWorld report that the Sky Blues have pocketed an £8.5 million windfall from Luiz’s recent switch from the Premier League to the Serie A, meaning Manchester City’s transfer budget has already been boosted by close to £30 million this summer.

Luiz featured during Villa’s emphatic win over Manchester City in December, as Leon Bailey’s second-half effort secured a 1-0 victory, and inflicted the Sky Blues’ last Premier League defeat.

Etihad bosses could earn further money this summer, with Newcastle interested in signing former Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford from Burnley.