Softfootball understands that Chelsea has made an official approach to Juventus to discuss a possible loan move for midfielder Douglas Luiz, as reported by sports expert Fabrizio Romano via his official X account.
He posted:
Chelsea made initial approach with Juventus to discuss Douglas Luiz loan deal. No interest in obligation to buy, Chelsea want straight loan.
Talks between the two sides are understood to be active as of January 23, 2026, with Chelsea increasingly concerned about their lack of options in central areas due to injuries, forcing Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo to shoulder much of the responsibility.
Chelsea, who recently edged past Pafos 1-0 in the Champions League after a 2-0 Premier League win over Brentford, have made their position on the deal clear. They do not want any obligation to buy attached to the move. Instead, the club is pushing for a straight loan until the end of the season, with only a possible option included if things go well.
Luiz is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest from Juventus, but his situation there has stalled. Since Sean Dyche’s appointment in October, the Brazilian has made just two Premier League starts, with minutes hard to come by.
Forest’s loan agreement includes appearance-related clauses that could trigger an obligation to buy, though those targets now look very unlikely to be reached.
Because of that, Forest is believed to be open to a mutual termination of the loan. That flexibility has opened the door for Chelsea to step in.
There are concerns, though. Luiz has suffered six injuries over the last 15 months. Still, Chelsea views this as a low-risk move given the structure of the deal and the congested fixture list coming up.
Aston Villa have also shown interest amid their own midfield issues, but Chelsea are currently ahead. For now, at least. Discussions are ongoing, and if Juventus are open, this one could move quickly, maybe quicker than expected.
