Jhon Duran to play at fifth club in 17 months after joining Benfica on loan from Al Nassr

Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has completed a loan move to Benfica.

The 22-year-old joined Al Nassr from Villa in January 2025, in a deal worth €77million (£64.5m) plus add-ons. He signed a five-and-a-half-year deal that saw him contracted to the Saudi Pro League side until 2030.

The move to Portugal will see the striker represent his fifth club since that move from Villa 17 months ago.

Upon joining Benfica, Duran, who will wear the number 22 shirt, said: “I’d like to thank you all for your support and for the messages you’ve left on my Instagram. I’d like them to return it on the pitch. I want to work to repay all the love you’ve shown me.”

2️⃣2️⃣ pic.twitter.com/rueV43g231

— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica) July 20, 2026

Duran moved to the Saudi Pro League as one of Europe’s most in-form strikers but after six months at Al Nassr, in which the Colombia international scored 12 goals in 18 games, he joined Fenerbahce on loan in the summer of 2025. Five goals and three assists in 21 games for the Turkish club followed, 12 of those appearances being starts.

Seven months later, the nomadic striker was on the move again, this time joining Zenit St Petersburg, again on loan from Al Nassr, in February 2026. In Russia, Duran scored two goals in nine games, starting only four times.

Duran has scored three goals in 17 appearances for Colombia but hasn’t represented his nation since June 2025. He was not selected for the 2026 World Cup squad.

At Benfica, Duran will play under former Fulham manager Marco Silva. The 49-year-old coach left the Premier League to replace Jose Mourinho at the helm of the Portuguese club in June, following the latter’s return to Real Madrid.