On 29 January 2025, Aston Villa confirmed the shock sale of Jhon Jader Duran to Saudi giants Al-Nassr. Just as the Colombian was establishing himself as a rising star in European football, he opted for a lucrative switch to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. However, a year later, the reality of his career path has diverged sharply from the initial hype.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Jhon Duran travelled to Russia on Thursday to finalise a move to Zenit St Petersburg. This transfer represents his fourth club across four different countries in little more than a year. Al-Nassr have sanctioned a loan deal until the end of the campaign following a truncated six-month stint at Turkish side Fenerbahce.

Duran, widely regarded as one of Colombian football's most promising talents, emerged from the Envigado academy at just 15 years old. Following a spell in US football, he moved to Aston Villa in 2023. He soon flourished as a lethal 'super-sub' for Unai Emery, netting 12 goals in just six months during the 2024-25 Champions League campaign. Such prolific form prompted Al-Nassr to shell out €77 million for his signature.

Fenerbahce sacrifice Duran to free up overseas slot

Statistically, the Medellin-born forward impressed in Saudi Arabia, scoring 12 goals in 18 matches alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Despite his on-field success, he sought a move last summer due to personal reasons and difficulties adapting to life in the Middle East. An approach from Jose Mourinho convinced him to join Fenerbahce on a season-long loan.

However, the dismissal of Mourinho shortly after his arrival proved a turning point for Duran's fortunes. His momentum was further hampered by a two-month injury lay-off, with the striker only returning to action in late October. While he eventually forced his way back into the starting XI, scoring five goals in 21 appearances, Fenerbahce were forced to free up a foreign player slot. Consequently, his loan was terminated, paving the way for a move to Zenit. He will link up with the Russian side ahead of the league's restart on 27 February.

Jhon Durán

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