Jhon Durán Joins Russian Zenit on Loan

Russian club Zenit has announced the signing of Colombian striker Jhon Khader Durán on a loan deal. This move marks the latest chapter in a turbulent year for Durán, who previously moved from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr and then to Fenerbahçe, struggling to find stability at both clubs.

Durán initially moved from Aston Villa to Al-Nassr for €77 million before joining Fenerbahçe. During his time at Fenerbahçe, he scored five goals and provided three assists in 1,130 minutes, though reports also cited his refusal to greet his coach as an issue. Meanwhile, Al-Nassr president Al-Majed previously criticized Durán's conduct, alleging he negotiated with another club without authorization. Al-Majed stated, “His behavior was unprofessional. He went to negotiate with another club without permission. If he had stayed at Al-Nassr, we would have taken very strict measures against him.”

Zenit's new coach, Sergei Semak, expressed confidence in Durán's quality despite his recent performance struggles. Semak stated, “We all know he is a high-quality player, but things probably didn't go as he wished. We hope he will be motivated to go to the World Cup with Colombia. We hope he will be useful to us. We do not doubt his quality.” Conversely, former Zenit player Denis Ugarov voiced skepticism about the deal, remarking, “I don't think he's a real reinforcement. His performance in Turkey was questionable. I think this could cause problems. I wouldn't risk it.”

It is worth noting that Aston Villa originally signed Durán from Chicago Fire for €29.5 million in January 2023, where he had scored 12 goals in 1,046 minutes.