Just five months after his surprising move from Aston Villa to Al Nassr in January, Jhon Durán is reportedly set to join José Mourinho`s Fenerbahçe.
Durán had impressed as a promising young talent in the Premier League during the first half of the 2024–25 season. Although often used as a substitute, the Colombian forward started the campaign strong, scoring four goals in five matches.
Before scoring his last Premier League goal before Christmas, Durán was Villa`s top scorer, matching the total of Liverpool`s Luis Díaz. Despite being linked with clubs like Bayern Munich and Barcelona, the 21-year-old made a surprising move to Cristiano Ronaldo`s Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Aston Villa received £65 million ($89.4 million) for Durán, a significant profit on the £18 million ($24.8 million) they paid just two years prior. This transfer fee represents Al Nassr`s record signing and is second only to Neymar`s transfer to Al Hilal in Saudi Pro League history.
Durán made an immediate impact at Al Nassr, scoring the opening two goals in a 3-0 league debut victory against Al Fayha, with Ronaldo adding the third. After the match, Durán excitedly commented, “It feels like I`m playing FIFA Career Mode. I`m celebrating goals with Cristiano Ronaldo!”
Jhon Durán scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for Al Nassr.
The two strikers played together in only 13 matches but both reached double figures in goals during this period; Ronaldo scored 11 compared to Durán`s 10. However, their time together wasn`t without issues.
The young forward, known for his fiery temper, was sent off in just his third league game for Al Nassr during a 3-2 loss to Al Ettifaq, visibly frustrating Ronaldo.
Despite goals from both players, Al Nassr finished third in the league, failing to qualify for the next AFC Champions League. Both Durán and Ronaldo failed to score when Al Nassr were eliminated from the continental competition in the semifinals last April.
Numerous sources report Durán`s expected move to Turkey. The Telegraph suggested the player sought a return to Europe due to “turbulence at Al Nassr,” citing concerns about Ronaldo`s growing influence and the club facing a lawsuit from former chief executive Majed Jaman Al-Sorour, who disputes the circumstances of his dismissal.
While Al-Sorour and Durán are departing Riyadh, Ronaldo appears set to stay. After speculation about his future, the 40-year-old signed a new two-year deal reportedly valued at up to £492 million ($676.4 million).
