Jhon Duran Opens Up About Zenit St Petersburg Transfer Following Aston Villa Departure
Former Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran has broken his silence regarding his recent transfer to Zenit St Petersburg, marking his second move since leaving the Premier League club last year. The Colombian striker, aged 22, has joined the Russian side on loan from Al-Nassr, following a previous loan spell at Fenerbahce earlier this season.
Duran's Career Journey Since Villa Park
After making a significant impact at Villa Park, Duran's career has faced challenges since his departure to the Saudi Pro League in January 2025. His move to Zenit represents a fresh opportunity to reignite his form and development as a professional footballer.
In his first comments on the transfer, Duran emphasized the appeal of the club and the personal challenge it presents. "I decided to move to Zenit because of the club, and the challenge," he stated. "It will help my development as a player, and I want to be part of the team. The club wanted me here, and that made me want to be here."
Ambitions and Motivation in Russia
Duran expressed his determination to contribute to Zenit's success, highlighting his desire to win trophies and score goals. "I always strive to be number one and I will do my best to take the team to the championship title and other trophies," he added. "I want to score lots of goals and help the team move forward."
A key aspect of his move is the return to wearing the number nine shirt, which he previously donned at Aston Villa. "It's a very important number for me. I've worn number 9 on my back at nearly every club I've been at, excluding my last one," Duran explained. "Now I have number 9 back and I'm very happy about that, because it best suits me as a footballer. I want to wear it for the rest of my career and will play well in it for Zenit."
Zenit's Expectations and Support
Zenit manager Sergei Semak acknowledged Duran's talent while recognizing his recent struggles. "We all know that he's a top quality player, but things haven't been going as well for him as he'd probably like," Semak said. "We're expecting him to be motivated to go to the World Cup with Colombia and compete with John Cordoba for a spot in the starting XI. We'll be looking for him to be useful for us, and we've no doubt in his quality."
This transfer underscores Duran's ongoing journey to stabilize his career after leaving Aston Villa, with hopes of making a significant impact in the Russian league and beyond.
