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Aston Villa can ruin PERFECT Leeds transfer with bargain family reunion
Tom Weber
- Updated: 11 Jan 2026 09:11 GMT
- 4 min read
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Aston Villa have joined Leeds United in the race to sign Union Berlin centre-back Danilho Doekhi, according to German media.
The Dutch centre-back is one of the biggest opportunities on the market for clubs across Europe this month. Doekhi only has six months left to run on his deal, and Union Berlin accept that it would be financial suicide to let him walk away for free in the summer.
The problem is that Doekhi has already decided not to sign a contract extension, which means that the Bundesliga outfit need to cash in on him this month. This has attracted the attention of Leeds.
Current ETV
Danilho Doekhi
D (CR)
Union Berlin
Danilho Doekhi
D (CR)
Union Berlin
ETV Range
€10.9M - €13.3M
Always attentive to the German market under Daniel Farke, the Elland Road club registered their interest in Doekhi before the January window even opened, and FootballTransfers recently explained that the 27-year-old would be perfectly suited to Leeds' style of play.
However, Farke and company have yet to strike a deal for Doekhi, which has now emboldened Aston Villa to also enter the race for the towering defender, according to Kicker.
Villa have a Doekhi advantage
This is bad news for Leeds - and not just because Villa are in a much better place in the Premier League table. The Birmingham club also have a different, more unique advantage.
Doekhi has a family connection with Villa as he is the cousin of young midfielder Lamare Bogarde. Both were born in Rotterdam and are nephews of former Barcelona and Chelsea defender Winston Bogarde.
Of course, this doesn't automatically make Villa the favourites for his signature, but it could tip the scales in their favour. However, given Villa's current form, Doekhi might have better prospects of getting regular minutes at Leeds.
With Joe Rodon out injured, Doekhi could immediately slot into Farke's side, whereas he would have to fight for his place at Villa and convince the hard-to-please Unai Emery that he is capable of playing his system.
Either way, it looks inevitable that he will be on the move this month. Due to his contract situation and his impressive form this season, clubs are starting to queue up to acquire a player who could be one of the bargain signings of the season.
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