Quick Read
- Jhon Duran, 22, has reportedly terminated his loan spell with Fenerbahçe.
- The Colombian striker is now heading to Zenit Saint Petersburg on loan until the end of the season.
- Last year, Duran transferred from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr for £64.5 million, drawing interest from Chelsea and West Ham.
- He scored 12 goals in 18 games for Al-Nassr but only 5 goals in 21 games for Fenerbahçe.
- Zenit Saint Petersburg is currently banned from European competitions due to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
SAINT PETERSBURG (Azat TV) – Colombian international striker Jhon Duran has reportedly terminated his loan spell with Turkish club Fenerbahçe and is now on his way to join Russian Premier League side Zenit Saint Petersburg until the end of the season. The unexpected move, confirmed by French outlet Foot Mercato on Thursday morning, marks a puzzling turn in the 22-year-old’s career, just a year after he was highly sought after by top European clubs.
Duran’s journey to Zenit comes after a rapid succession of high-profile transfers that saw him move from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabian giants Al-Nassr for a reported £64.5 million in January last year. At the time, Premier League clubs like Chelsea and West Ham United had expressed strong interest, with Villa rejecting a £57 million bid from the Hammers shortly before his Saudi transfer, according to the Daily Mail.
Duran’s Rapid Ascent and Shifting Fortunes
Jhon Duran’s career trajectory has been nothing short of dynamic. After beginning his professional journey with Envigado in his native Colombia, he moved to Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire before making his mark in England with Aston Villa. His performances for Villa, which included goals in the Champions League last season, quickly established him as one of the Premier League’s most exciting rising stars.
His lucrative move to Al-Nassr saw him sign a contract reportedly worth around £355,000 per week until 2030. He settled well in the Middle East, scoring 12 goals in just 18 games for the Saudi club, as reported by Filmogaz. However, after only a few months, he was reportedly tempted to Turkey by the promise of an even more lucrative salary, joining Fenerbahçe on loan.
His stint in Turkey proved challenging. Duran scored five goals and provided two assists across 21 appearances for Fenerbahçe, often coming off the bench in recent matches. According to Foot Mercato, he found it difficult to adapt, leading to the termination of his loan agreement.
The Zenit Saint Petersburg Move and Russian Football Context
With his Fenerbahçe loan terminated, Duran is now heading to Russia. Journalist Santi Una confirmed that the player was on a flight to Saint Petersburg Airport, where he is expected to undergo medical examinations and complete official transfer procedures in the coming hours, according to YSScores. Zenit Saint Petersburg, a dominant force in Russian football, is looking to strengthen its squad for upcoming domestic competitions.
However, the move to Zenit places Duran in a unique footballing context. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian clubs and the national team have been banned from participating in UEFA and FIFA competitions, including the Champions League. This isolation makes it difficult to gauge the current standard of the Russian Premier League against top European leagues.
Despite the lack of European competition, Zenit still boasts significant support, with an average home attendance of almost 37,000, comparable to mid-table figures in the English Premier League, notes the Daily Mail.
A Nomadic Career Driven by Background
At just 22, Duran has already led an itinerant career, playing for clubs in Colombia, the USA, England, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and now Russia. He has also amassed 17 caps and scored three goals for the Colombian senior national team.
His decision to leave the Premier League at such a young age for a move to Saudi Arabia, and now Russia, has puzzled some observers. However, insights from his former academy coaches at Envigado shed light on his motivations. Juan Carlos Grisales, an academy coach who met Duran at age 11, told The Athletic in 2024 that Duran comes from a poor but ‘rich in gold’ municipality. Wilberth Perea, another coach, described his background as an area ‘full of working people, fighting to get ahead day to day.’ This background instilled in Duran ‘the desire to be better’ and a strong work ethic, suggesting that the opportunity to secure significant financial stability for his family and friends likely played a considerable role in his career choices.
The move to Zenit Saint Petersburg, a club currently excluded from top-tier European competition, underscores the complex interplay of financial incentives and sporting ambition that often shapes the careers of young football talents from less privileged backgrounds. While offering a platform for regular play in front of large crowds, it represents a significant departure from the European elite stage where Duran was once seen as a rising star.