Jhon Duran joins Benfica on loan from Al-Nassr: 7 clubs at 22
Synopsis
Seven clubs before his 23rd birthday — Jhon Duran's loan move to Benfica from Al-Nassr is the latest chapter in one of football's most restless young careers. With a €30 million buyout clause attached, Benfica are betting the 22-year-old Colombian, who cost Al-Nassr €77 million, can finally settle and deliver at the highest level.
Key Takeaways
Jhon Duran , 22, has joined Benfica on loan from Al-Nassr through the end of the 2026/27 season .
Benfica are paying a loan fee of €6.1 million , with a permanent buyout option of €30 million .
This is Duran's seventh professional club , following stints at Envigado, Chicago Fire, Aston Villa, Al-Nassr, Fenerbahce, and Zenit St Petersburg.
Al-Nassr originally signed Duran for €77 million after he scored 12 goals — a career high — in the 2024 calendar year at Aston Villa.
Duran has 17 caps and 3 goals for Colombia , and was part of the squad that reached the 2024 Copa América final .
Colombian striker Jhon Duran has joined Portuguese giants Benfica on loan from Saudi club Al-Nassr, the Lisbon side confirmed on 21 July. The deal runs through the end of the 2026/27 season, making Benfica the seventh club of the 22-year-old's already well-travelled professional career.
Deal Details
Benfica will pay a loan fee of €6.1 million to secure Duran's services for the season. The agreement also includes a permanent buyout option valued at €30 million, giving the Portuguese champions a clear pathway to retain the forward if he impresses.
What Duran Said
The Colombia international expressed genuine enthusiasm at joining one of Europe's historic clubs. 'I'm very grateful to God, just as I said when I arrived. I'm happy! I still say that it's the biggest club in Portugal. I'm very grateful to be here,' Duran said at his unveiling. He also set out his ambitions clearly: 'I have very high expectations for my time here. I want to play well, give it my all, and become a champion.' Pledging commitment to the supporters, he added, 'I want to work hard and help my team.'
A Career Built on the Move
Duran began his professional journey at Envigado in Colombia — a club renowned for producing elite South American talent — before crossing the Atlantic to Chicago Fire FC in MLS in 2021, where he scored 8 goals in 28 games. In January 2023, Aston Villa brought him to the Premier League, and he quickly made an impression, reaching a career-high 12 goals by the end of the 2024 calendar year — including strikes in four consecutive matches.
That form attracted Saudi interest, and Al-Nassr paid €77 million to sign him. However, Duran has spent the time since on loan rather than cementing a place in Riyadh. In the 2025/26 season, he joined Fenerbahce on loan in Turkey, winning the Turkish Super Cup and scoring 5 goals in 21 games, before moving to Zenit St Petersburg — also on loan from Al-Nassr — where he claimed his first national league title, contributing 1 goal in 6 matches and adding another in the Russian Cup.
International Pedigree
A Colombia international since 2022, Duran has earned 17 caps and scored 3 goals for the Cafeteros. His most prominent international moment came at the 2024 Copa América, where Colombia reached the final before losing 1-0 to Argentina in extra time.
What This Means for Benfica
The signing adds a dynamic, physically imposing option to Marco Silva's attacking line as Benfica look to compete on multiple fronts in 2026/27. With a buyout clause already embedded, the club retain control over Duran's long-term future. Whether this loan finally gives the 22-year-old the stability to fulfil his considerable potential remains the central question of his Lisbon chapter.
Point of View
But the embedded buyout clause tells its own story: Al-Nassr have not given up on the asset, they are simply farming him out for development. If Duran fires in Lisbon, the €30 million option looks cheap. If he stalls again, it raises harder questions about whether the Saudi club's transfer strategy — buy young, loan repeatedly — is serving the player or just the balance sheet.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Jhon Duran joined Benfica?
Jhon Duran has joined Benfica on loan from Al-Nassr for the 2026/27 season, with the Portuguese club paying a €6.1 million loan fee. A €30 million permanent buyout option is included in the deal.
How many clubs has Jhon Duran played for?
Benfica is Jhon Duran's seventh professional club at the age of 22. He has previously played for Envigado, Chicago Fire FC, Aston Villa, Al-Nassr, Fenerbahce, and Zenit St Petersburg.
How much did Al-Nassr pay for Jhon Duran?
Al-Nassr signed Jhon Duran for €77 million, following a standout spell at Aston Villa where he scored 12 goals in the 2024 calendar year — a career high at the time.
What is Jhon Duran's international record with Colombia?
Duran has earned 17 caps for Colombia and scored 3 goals since his international debut in 2022. He was part of the Colombian squad that reached the 2024 Copa América final, where they lost 1-0 to Argentina in extra time.
Who is Benfica's manager and how does Duran fit in?
Benfica are managed by Marco Silva. Duran is expected to add a physically imposing, high-energy option to the attack as the club compete across multiple competitions in the 2026/27 season.
