Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has made another significant move in his young career, joining Portuguese giants Benfica on a season-long loan from Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr.
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The 22-year-old Colombia international has already had a whirlwind career, with stints at seven clubs across three continents, and it seems he’s not slowing down anytime soon.
Born in Colombia, Duran began his professional career with local side Envigado in 2019 before earning a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) team Chicago Fire in 2022.
However, his time in the MLS was short-lived, as he joined Aston Villa in January 2023 for a reported £14 million, quickly becoming a fan favourite with his impressive goal-scoring record.
Despite scoring a famous winner for Villa against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Duran’s time at the club was cut short when he was sold to Al-Nassr for a whopping £71 million in January 2025.
Despite scoring eight goals in 13 games for the Saudi Arabian side, Duran’s stay was short-lived, as he moved to Fenerbahce on loan in the summer of 2025.
However, his time in Turkey was also short-lived, as manager Jose Mourinho was sacked less than a month after Duran made his debut, and the loan was cancelled in February 2026 so he could join Zenit St Petersburg in Russia.
At Zenit, Duran scored three goals in nine games, but it seems he’s now found a new home at Benfica, where he’ll be looking to make a lasting impression.
‘I am happy! I continue to say that it is the biggest club in Portugal. I am very grateful to be here,’ Duran said in an interview, expressing his excitement at joining the club.
‘I have very high expectations of being here. I want to play well, give my all and become champion,’ he added, highlighting his ambition and determination to succeed at the club.
The loan deal is reportedly worth £5.19 million, with Benfica having the option to make the move permanent for a staggering £25.5 million at the end of the 2026-27 season.
With Duran’s impressive goal-scoring record and his desire to succeed at the club, it’s clear that Benfica are hoping to make the most of this talented young player.
