Jhon Duran has completed a move to Benfica, signing a season-long loan from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr. The former Aston Villa striker will spend the 2025-26 campaign at the Estádio da Luz, with Benfica holding an option to make the transfer permanent for €30 million (£25.5 million) at the end of the 2026-27 season.
Loan details and reunion
Benfica will pay a loan fee of €6.1 million (£5.19 million) for the Colombia international. Duran will be reunited with another ex-Villa player at the Portuguese club: Enzo Barrenechea, who also joined Benfica earlier this year.
“I am happy! I continue to say that it is the biggest club in Portugal. I am very grateful to be here,” Duran said. “I have very high expectations of being here. I want to play well, give my all and become champion.”
Fourth club in 18 months
This marks Duran's fourth club since leaving Aston Villa for Al-Nassr in January 2024. During the 2024-25 season, he was loaned to Fenerbahce and Zenit Saint Petersburg, making this his third loan spell away from the Saudi club.
At Benfica, Duran will look to rediscover the form that made him a promising talent at Villa, where he scored 5 goals in 23 appearances before his move to the Middle East.
