Jhon Durán is on the verge of a return to European football, with Benfica closing in on a loan deal for the Colombian striker from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
According to reports from Goal.com, Al-Nassr CEO José Semedo has granted the 22-year-old permission to seek a move in a bid to revive his career.
The Saudi club are willing to co-fund the deal and cover most of his significant wages.
Durán, who joined Al-Nassr from Aston Villa for €77 million in January 2025 on a contract running until 2030, has struggled to make an impact, registering just 18 appearances across all competitions.
His situation was further compounded by unsuccessful loan spells at Fenerbahçe and Zenit St Petersburg, with disciplinary issues in Russia affecting his progress at Zenit.
Durán is expected to arrive in Lisbon in the coming days to undergo a medical ahead of joining Benfica on loan. He will link up with Marco Silva’s squad and be immediately integrated into pre-season preparations to fast-track his adaptation to the team’s tactical setup.
Lack of regular football ultimately cost Durán a place in Colombia’s 2026 World Cup squad, but his anticipated move to Benfica offers a fresh opportunity to rebuild his career while strengthening the Portuguese side’s attacking options ahead of a demanding domestic and UEFA Champions League campaign.
Duran’s move to Benfica will see him represent a seventh professional team in less than 7 years.
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