Jhon Duran has completed a move to Benfica on loan from Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. The 22-year-old Colombian international will spend the 2026-27 season with the Portuguese side on a season-long arrangement. Benfica will pay a £5.19m loan fee for the striker’s services, with the option to make the transfer permanent for £25.5m at the conclusion of the season.
Duran’s career has been marked by frequent transfers across multiple leagues and continents. He began his professional career with Colombian side Envigado in 2019 before moving to MLS club Chicago Fire in 2022. His transfer to Aston Villa in January 2023 for £14m proved to be a pivotal move, as he quickly gained popularity with the club’s supporters. His status rose further after he scored a significant goal for Villa against Bayern Munich in Champions League competition.
The striker was sold to Al-Nassr for £71m in January 2025, but his time in Saudi Arabia lasted only half a season. He moved to Fenerbahce on loan but the arrangement was terminated in February 2026 following the departure of manager Jose Mourinho less than a month after Duran’s debut. He subsequently joined Zenit, where he recorded three goals across nine appearances before securing the Benfica loan.
At just 22 years old, the move to Benfica marks Duran’s seventh club across seven different countries. Upon joining, Duran expressed his optimism about the opportunity. “I am very grateful to be here,” he stated, adding that he harbors “very high expectations” and aims to perform well and win the championship with the Portuguese club.