Douglas Luiz has gone from the favelas of Rio de Janeiro to one of the most talked-about midfielders in European football.
His £51.5 million move from Aston Villa to Juventus in the summer of 2024 — one of the biggest transfers of the year — put his finances firmly in the spotlight.
Douglas Luiz’s estimated net worth stands at approximately £30 million, built through Premier League wages, a lucrative Serie A contract, transfer bonuses, and commercial deals.
This article breaks down exactly how he earned that figure, club by club, year by year.
Douglas Luiz’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Douglas Luiz Soares de Paulo |
| Date of Birth | May 9, 1998 |
| Age | 27 years old |
| Nationality | Brazilian |
| Height | 5’9″ (177 cm) |
| Position | Central Midfielder / Defensive Midfielder |
| Current Club | Aston Villa (on loan from Juventus) |
| Turned Professional | 2016 (Vasco da Gama) |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~£30 million |
| Weekly Wage | £138,000 per week |
| Annual Salary | £7,176,000 per year |
| Contract (Juventus) | Expires June 30, 2029 |
| Relationship Status | Single (previously dated Alisha Lehmann; split May 2025) |
| @douglasluiz6 (verified) |
Early Life & Career
Douglas Luiz Soares de Paulo was born on May 9, 1998, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He grew up in Nova Holanda, a community within the Complexo da Maré — one of Rio’s largest favelas.
His father, Edmilson Soares, ran a small bread business, and Douglas and his siblings often helped out. It was a humble upbringing, but football gave him a way forward.
He tried out for Flamengo’s under-13 team but was rejected. That setback did not stop him.
In 2013, at just 14 years old, he passed trials at Vasco da Gama and joined their youth academy. He initially played as a right back before coaches moved him into central midfield, where his vision and passing range truly stood out.
By 2016, at age 17, Vasco’s first-team manager Jorginho promoted Douglas to the senior squad to cover an injury in the squad. He made his professional debut and impressed enough to earn a new contract.
In 2017, his performances helped Vasco win promotion to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A — a campaign that put European scouts firmly on his trail.
Professional Career
Manchester City signed Douglas Luiz for a reported £10.7 million in 2017, but UK work permit rules meant he never made a competitive appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side. Instead, City sent him on two loan spells to their sister club Girona in La Liga.
Those years in Spain were formative — he developed his engine, pressing intensity, and positional discipline, winning the Supercopa de Catalunya in 2019 with the club.
In 2019, Aston Villa signed him permanently for a reported £15 million, and it proved to be outstanding value.
Over five seasons at Villa Park, he made more than 200 appearances and became one of the most reliable midfielders in the Premier League.
He won the Aston Villa Players’ Player of the Year award in the 2022–23 season and guided the club to UEFA Conference League qualification. According to ESPN’s career stats tracker, he registered 9 goals and 5 assists in his best season at the club.
In the summer of 2024, Juventus signed him for approximately €51.5 million in a deal that also included players Iling-Junior and Enzo Barrenechea moving to Villa.
He signed a five-year contract with the Turin giants. However, his first season in Italy was difficult — he featured in just 26 games and registered no goals or assists.
By January 2026, Juventus agreed to loan him back to Aston Villa for the rest of the 2025–26 season, with Villa holding a €25 million option to sign him permanently.
On the international stage, Douglas Luiz is an Olympic champion, having won gold with Brazil at the 2020 Tokyo Games — one of the highest honors in international football outside the World Cup.
Girlfriend
Douglas Luiz began dating Swiss women’s footballer Alisha Lehmann in 2021 while both were at Aston Villa.
The couple briefly separated before reuniting in 2023, and in the summer of 2024, they made history by completing what became widely known as football’s most high-profile “couple transfer” — both moving from Villa to Juventus at the same time.
Their relationship ended in May 2025, less than a year after the move to Turin. Neither confirmed the reasons publicly, but Lehmann later left Juventus for Como Women and then signed with Leicester City in January 2026.
By early 2026, Douglas Luiz had been romantically linked to Duda Gaspar — a 19-year-old model and influencer, and the daughter of Arsenal legend and former Villa director Edu.
Douglas Luiz Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Douglas Luiz has an estimated net worth of £30 million.
He built this wealth through career contracts spanning Brazil, England, Spain, and Italy — anchored by his high-earning years at Aston Villa and his current Juventus deal, which remains one of the richest in his career.
Contract
Douglas Luiz signed a five-year contract with Juventus in the summer of 2024, running through June 30, 2029.
As reported by Transfermarkt and confirmed by multiple sources, the deal included an annual net salary of €5 million, with Juventus paying approximately €9.5 million in total wages including taxes.
In January 2026, he moved to Aston Villa on a loan deal that cost the club €2 million. Villa hold an option to purchase him permanently at the end of the season for €25 million plus up to €3.5 million in add-ons.
Salary
According to Salary Sport’s football wage database, Douglas Luiz currently earns £138,000 per week — equal to £7,176,000 per year. This ranks him among the higher earners in central midfield across European football.
During his time at Aston Villa before Juventus, his wages rose steadily: from £52,000 per week in 2021–22, to £67,000 in 2022–23, and £92,000 in his final season at the club in 2023–24.
The jump to Juventus represented a significant pay raise that cemented his status as a high-value asset.
Career Earnings by Year
| Season | Club | Weekly Wage | Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021–22 | Aston Villa | £52,000 | £2,704,000 |
| 2022–23 | Aston Villa | £67,000 | £3,484,000 |
| 2023–24 | Aston Villa | £92,000 | £4,784,000 |
| 2024–25 | Juventus | £138,000 | £7,176,000 |
| 2025–26 | Aston Villa (loan) | £138,000 | £7,176,000 |
Endorsements
Douglas Luiz holds commercial partnerships that supplement his playing income, though the precise financial value of these deals has not been publicly disclosed. He has been associated with Nike for kit and footwear.
His profile surged significantly during his relationship with Alisha Lehmann — who is the most-followed female footballer on Instagram — exposing him to a broader global audience and boosting his commercial appeal.
While no major standalone endorsement contracts have been confirmed by his camp, top-tier midfielders at his level typically earn between £500,000 and £1.5 million annually from brand deals.
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016–17 | Vasco da Gama | Brasileirão / Copa | 29 | 2 | 1 |
| 2017–18 | Girona (loan) | La Liga | 22 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018–19 | Girona (loan) | La Liga | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| 2019–20 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| 2020–21 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 32 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021–22 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 31 | 2 | 3 |
| 2022–23 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 33 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023–24 | Aston Villa | Premier League | 35 | 9 | 5 |
| 2024–25 | Juventus | Serie A | 26 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025–26 | Aston Villa (loan) | Premier League | 16+ | 1+ | — |
| Career Total | All Clubs | All Comps | 347+ | 25+ | 29+ |
FAQs
What is Douglas Luiz’s net worth?
Douglas Luiz has an estimated net worth of approximately £30 million. He earned this through his contracts at Aston Villa, Juventus, and earlier clubs, plus commercial income.
How much does Douglas Luiz earn per week?
He earns £138,000 per week — around £7.17 million per year — under his Juventus contract, which also covers his current loan spell at Aston Villa.
What club does Douglas Luiz play?
He currently plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League on a loan deal from Juventus, which runs through June 30, 2026. Villa hold a €25 million option to sign him permanently.
Did Douglas Luiz win the Olympics?
Yes, he won the gold medal with Brazil at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, playing a key role in the men’s football tournament — one of his biggest career honors.
Who is Douglas Luiz dating?
He split from Alisha Lehmann in May 2025. By early 2026, he was reportedly linked to Duda Gaspar, a 19-year-old model and the daughter of former Arsenal and Brazil sporting director Edu.
