Ex-Villa striker Duran joins seventh club aged 22

Jhon Duran’s career has already taken seven distinct turns in seven countries before he turns 23. On deadline day, Benfica secured the Colombian striker on a season-long loan from Al-Nassr, with a permanent €30m option that becomes exercisable in 2027. The move caps another rapid reshuffle for a player who has twice left Aston Villa for six-figure fees, only to be re-sold within months.

From Envigado to Lisbon via Istanbul and St Petersburg

Duran’s professional journey began at Colombian club Envigado in 2019. Two years later he crossed to MLS side Chicago Fire, then in January 2023 Aston Villa paid £14m to bring him to the Premier League. After a breakout Champions League winner against Bayern Munich, Villa accepted a £71m bid from Al-Nassr in January 2025. Eight goals in 13 Saudi games were enough for a short-lived spell, but by January 2026 he was on the move again—this time to Fenerbahce on loan. Mourinho’s dismissal in February 2026 ended that adventure after a single appearance, and Duran headed to Zenit where three goals in nine appearances followed. Now Benfica represents his seventh club across seven nations.

Numbers that shape the Benfica gamble

The Lisbon giants will pay a £5.19m loan fee and hold a €30m (£25.5m) permanent-buy clause exercisable in 2027. Duran arrives with high expectations: “I am happy! I continue to say that it is the biggest club in Portugal. I am very grateful to be here. I have very high expectations of being here. I want to play well, give my all and become champion.” Benfica will hope his Champions League pedigree—one goal in four games against Bayern—translates to Estádio da Luz, where they currently trail Porto by three points with a game in hand.

Villa’s revolving door and what comes next

Aston Villa recouped £85m in transfer fees from Duran’s two exits, yet the club’s own squad overhaul continues apace. While Duran chased minutes across three continents, Villa have been active in defence, with Ezri Konsa linked with Arsenal and midfield reinforcements like João Gomes arriving to add steel. The question now is whether Duran can replicate the impact he made in his brief Villa spell—when a Champions League strike against Bayern briefly made him a hero—rather than become another name on a growing list of temporary fixes.

Benfica’s decision to take a chance on a player with such a nomadic résumé carries risk, but the numbers suggest reward: a fee structure that limits upfront cost and a striker who has already shown he can deliver in continental competition. If Duran can channel his Champions League form into domestic dominance, he may yet justify the seventh move of his career.