Jhon Durán is close to returning to Europe. Several Portuguese media outlets report that the Colombian striker is nearing an agreement with Benfica. The deal is expected to be a loan.
Benfica Close to Completing Loan Deal for Jhon Durán
Benfica are reportedly on the verge of completing the signing of Colombian striker Jhon Durán from Al-Nassr, with Portuguese media claiming that the main details of the agreement have now been settled.
According to A Bola, negotiations accelerated significantly during the past few hours and the transfer is effectively complete. The proposed agreement will see Durán join Benfica on loan for the entire season, while the Portuguese club will also receive an option to buy the striker permanently.
That purchase clause will not be mandatory, giving Benfica the opportunity to assess the player over a full campaign before deciding whether to make a major long-term investment. The structure reduces the immediate financial risk for the Lisbon club while still allowing them to secure a forward who moved for a substantial fee only recently.
"The deal involves a one-season loan from Al-Nassr. A purchase option has been included, but it is not mandatory," A Bola reported.
The most difficult part of the discussions was understood to be the salary Durán receives in Saudi Arabia. The Colombian international reportedly earns around €20 million per year at Al-Nassr, an amount far beyond the normal wage structure of Benfica and most other clubs in Portuguese football.
For the transfer to become possible, Al-Nassr had to agree to continue paying part of his salary during the loan period. Without that contribution, Benfica would have found it extremely difficult to accommodate the striker within their budget.
The exact division of the salary has not been disclosed, but the Saudi Arabian club is expected to cover a significant percentage. Benfica will pay the remaining amount while also taking responsibility for the player during the season.
The arrangement demonstrates how strongly Benfica wanted to add Durán to the squad. The club have reportedly followed him for a considerable period and believe his physical qualities, pace and finishing ability could provide a major boost to their attack.
Durán is still only 22 years old and remains a player with considerable potential. Despite already representing several clubs, he has yet to enter what would normally be considered the peak years of a striker career.
Benfica are therefore not only looking at what he can offer immediately. The club will also see an opportunity to help him develop, increase his value and potentially complete a permanent transfer if the season proves successful.
The move could also offer Durán the stability he has lacked since leaving Aston Villa. His career has included several changes of club in a relatively short period, with permanent transfers and loan spells preventing him from establishing himself in one team for a prolonged spell.
Durán joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa in January 2025 in a deal reportedly worth €77 million. The size of the transfer reflected the Saudi club confidence in his potential and his ability to develop into one of the most dangerous young strikers in world football.
He made a strong statistical impact during his first months in Saudi Arabia, scoring 12 goals in 18 appearances. Those numbers suggested he could become a central figure in the Al-Nassr attack.
However, his situation changed after only half a season. Rather than remaining an undisputed part of the squad, Durán was subsequently sent on loan to Fenerbahçe and later to Zenit.
Those temporary moves created uncertainty around his long-term future at Al-Nassr. Although he remained under contract with the Saudi club, it became increasingly clear that another transfer was possible if the right agreement could be found.
Benfica now appear to have taken advantage of that situation. A loan deal allows the Portuguese club to bring in a striker who would normally be financially inaccessible without paying a large transfer fee immediately.
The non-mandatory purchase option is especially important. Benfica will be able to evaluate Durán across domestic competition and European football before deciding whether his performances justify a permanent move.
Should he score regularly and adapt well to the team, the club could activate the option and secure a forward with significant resale potential. Should the move not work as expected, Benfica would be able to return him to Al-Nassr at the end of the season without being forced into a costly transfer.
For Al-Nassr, the agreement also offers potential advantages. Durán will receive regular playing time in a competitive European environment, while Benfica will take on part of his salary and help maintain or increase his market value.
The Saudi club have reportedly experienced financial difficulties despite continuing to employ several highly paid players, including Cristiano Ronaldo. Contributing towards Durán salary is therefore not an ideal solution, but it may be considered preferable to keeping the striker without a clear role in the team.
The loan will also place Durán back in European football, where he originally attracted attention before his move to Saudi Arabia. His performances for Aston Villa established him as a powerful and unpredictable forward capable of causing problems for Premier League defenders.
Although he was not always a guaranteed starter in England, his impact as a substitute and his ability to score difficult goals made him one of the most closely watched young strikers at Villa.
His combination of strength and speed made him particularly dangerous when attacking space behind defensive lines. He was also capable of producing powerful finishes from outside the penalty area and competing physically against experienced centre-backs.
Benfica are likely to view those characteristics as valuable. In Portuguese football, the Lisbon club often face opponents who defend with large numbers of players behind the ball, requiring a striker who can occupy defenders and create space inside crowded penalty areas.
Durán could offer a different profile from the other forwards available to the coaching staff. His physical presence would provide Benfica with a direct option, while his movement and acceleration could be useful during transitions and counter-attacks.
There will still be questions about his adaptation. Moving between different leagues, tactical systems and countries can be difficult, particularly for a young player who has already experienced several changes in a short period.
Benfica will need to provide him with a clear role and a stable environment. The striker will also have to demonstrate consistency, discipline and a willingness to work within the collective structure of the team.
His talent has rarely been questioned. The greater challenge has been turning flashes of quality into reliable performances across an entire season.
A full year at Benfica could give Durán the platform to do exactly that. The Portuguese club have a long record of helping talented young players improve before moving on to some of the largest leagues in Europe.
The pressure at Benfica will be significant, however. The club are expected to compete for the league title every season and every new striker is immediately judged by his goals.
Durán will be expected to contribute quickly, particularly if he arrives with the reputation of a player who cost Al-Nassr €77 million. Supporters will naturally expect a forward of that value to make a decisive impact.
The salary figures will also increase attention around the transfer. Even with Al-Nassr paying part of his wages, Durán is likely to become one of the most expensive players in the Benfica squad.
That financial commitment means the club will expect him to become more than a rotational option. He will need to compete for a starting position and deliver in the most important domestic and European matches.
Record reports that Benfica interest in Durán is not new. The Colombian has reportedly appeared on the club shortlist for a long time, suggesting the deal is the result of detailed scouting rather than a sudden response to the market.
Benfica are believed to have monitored his situation through his time at Aston Villa, Al-Nassr and his subsequent loan spells. The club appear convinced that his qualities fit the type of forward they want to add.
Negotiations became possible once it was clear that Al-Nassr were willing to consider another temporary departure. Benfica then had to find a financial structure capable of satisfying all parties.
The salary remained the principal obstacle. A player earning approximately €20 million per season cannot simply move into the Portuguese league without a significant adjustment or contribution from his parent club.
The willingness of Al-Nassr to continue covering part of the wages was therefore essential. Once that issue was resolved, the remaining elements of the deal could progress more quickly.
The purchase option may become another important detail. Its value has not yet been revealed, but it will determine whether a permanent transfer is realistic for Benfica.
If the clause is too high, the loan may effectively become a one-season arrangement unless Benfica later negotiate a reduced fee. If the amount is within reach, the Portuguese club could secure a player who remains young enough to be sold for a profit in the future.
Much will depend on Durán performances. A productive season could make the purchase option attractive, but it could also encourage Al-Nassr to reconsider his value or generate interest from other European clubs.
Benfica will therefore hope that the option gives them sufficient control over the situation. The club will not want to develop the striker for a full season only to lose him immediately after a successful campaign.
From the player perspective, the move offers a chance to rebuild momentum. Durán has scored goals in different countries, but he now needs continuity and a team prepared to make him an important part of its plans.
Regular football in Lisbon could strengthen his position with the Colombian national team and keep him visible to leading European clubs.
Benfica will also offer him the possibility of competing in major European matches. Performing well on that stage could help restore the reputation he developed before leaving Aston Villa.
The move is not yet officially confirmed by the clubs, but Portuguese reports suggest that only the final formalities remain. Record claims Durán is expected to join his new teammates next week.
That timetable would allow him to begin training with the squad and start adapting before the competitive schedule becomes more demanding.
The coaching staff will need to assess his physical condition after his recent movements between clubs. They will also want to introduce him gradually to the tactical expectations of the team.
If he arrives fit, Durán could quickly become one of the most important attacking options in the squad. His ability to score, run behind defenders and provide a physical reference in attack could give Benfica greater variety.
The transfer is also likely to generate considerable excitement among supporters. Signing a striker who moved for €77 million only 18 months earlier would represent a significant statement from the Portuguese club.
At the same time, the deal carries uncertainty. Durán has not enjoyed a settled period since leaving England, and Benfica will need to ensure that the move provides the stability required for him to perform consistently.
The loan structure offers protection against that risk. Benfica can benefit from his quality without immediately committing to a permanent transfer, while Durán receives another opportunity to prove himself in Europe.
Al-Nassr, meanwhile, will reduce part of their wage burden and place the player in an environment where his market value could recover.
For all three parties, the agreement appears to offer a logical solution. Benfica gain an ambitious attacking signing, Durán returns to European football and Al-Nassr find a temporary destination for a player who does not currently appear central to their plans.
The final judgement will come on the pitch. Durán has the physical and technical tools to succeed in Portugal, but he must now translate his potential into regular goals and consistent performances.
Should he do so, Benfica may find themselves with one of the most influential strikers in the league and a difficult decision to make over the purchase option at the end of the season.
For now, the expectation in Portugal is that the Colombian will arrive next week and begin a new chapter of a career that has already taken him from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia and now, potentially, Lisbon.
