Jhon Duran loaned to Benfica, fifth club in 18 months

Jhon Durán (22) is set to join his fifth club in less than two years. The Colombian international (17 caps, 3 goals) made headlines when he left Aston Villa for Al-Nassr—the Saudi club where Cristiano Ronaldo plays—in a €76 million deal at the end of January 2025, signing a five-year contract.

Now, Durán will attempt to revive his career at Benfica. The Portuguese capital club paid €6.1 million to loan him for the entire season. Benfica also holds a €30 million purchase option, which they can activate if the Cafetero proves convincing.

Stint in Saudi Arabia

Since joining Al-Nassr in February 2025, Durán played only 18 matches, scoring 12 goals. According to The Sun, he had to commute 1,000 km each day by plane between his home in Bahrain and Riyadh, where his club is based.

After scoring two braces in his first two matches, the striker was sent off in his third game. Although Al-Nassr reached the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League that same year, Durán has not played a match for the club since May 21, 2025. He has since been on a series of loans.

A Series of Loans

• Fenerbahçe (first loan): Just six months after his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Durán joined the Turkish side. He played 21 matches and was decisive on 8 occasions. The loan was terminated after six months, despite interest from Lille.
• Zenit Saint Petersburg: The Colombian then moved to Russia, where he played only 9 matches, scoring twice, but failed to impress.
• Benfica (third loan): Now in Lisbon, Durán will aim to help the club qualify for the Europa League. Benfica play their second qualifying round on July 23 and 30 against Swiss side St. Gallen.