Remember Jhon Duran? The young Colombian striker who scored that screamer against Bayern Munich for Aston Villa? Well, he's on the move again. At just 22 years old, he's about to join his sixth professional club.
Duran has cancelled his loan spell at Turkish giants Fenerbahce and is now close to signing for Zenit St Petersburg in Russia. It's been an absolutely wild 12 months for the young striker, and it shows no signs of slowing down.
Let's rewind a bit. In January 2025, Villa cashed in big time, selling Duran to Saudi Arabia's Al-Nassr for a massive £71m. That meant he'd be playing alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Not a bad deal, right?
Well, it didn't quite work out. After just six months, eight goals in 13 games, and a third-place finish in the Saudi Pro League, Duran was off again. He moved on loan to Fenerbahce in the summer, but that hasn't stuck either. He managed only 10 league games and three goals, though he did help them win the Turkish Super Cup.
From Villa Hero to Globetrotter
Duran's journey started back home in Colombia with Envigado before he moved to Chicago Fire at 18. After a year in MLS, Villa snapped him up for £14m in January 2023.
He quickly became a fan favourite at Villa Park. His direct style and knack for spectacular goals made him hard to ignore. Remember that stunning strike against Crystal Palace? Or those two goals in that crazy 3-3 draw with Liverpool that helped Villa reach the Champions League?
But things got messy. Duran courted a move to West Ham that summer, even posting the 'irons' gesture on social media. Villa fans weren't happy. When that transfer collapsed, he scored against West Ham and celebrated like he wanted to stay. Then came that unforgettable winner against Bayern Munich in October 2024.
Behind the scenes though, rumours swirled about Duran being unsettled. Manager Unai Emery struggled to fit both Duran and star striker Ollie Watkins into the same team. His teammate Morgan Rogers called him "the most chilled, relaxed person I've ever met" but added he's "a different animal when he's playing."
After a red card against Newcastle on Boxing Day, Duran was gone by January. Emery seemed relieved, saying it was "good news for us - they are paying good money."
Why Russia After Saudi Arabia?
The Saudi move looked promising on paper. Playing with Ronaldo and Sadio Mane at Al-Nassr should have been perfect for a young striker's development. His eight goals in 13 games suggested he was doing well on the pitch.
But reports emerged that Duran never really settled. He was allegedly living in Bahrain, some 300 miles from Al-Nassr's base in Riyadh. That's not exactly ideal for team bonding.
The Fenerbahce loan was supposed to be a fresh start. Instead, Jose Mourinho got sacked less than a month after Duran's debut. Injuries disrupted his season, and when he faced his old club Villa in the Europa League, Tyrone Mings completely marked him out of the game.
Now he's heading to Zenit, currently second in the Russian Super League. It's a strange choice in some ways. Russian clubs are banned from European competitions, and while Zenit get big crowds, it's hardly the glamorous career path most would expect for a £71m striker.
For bettors watching this situation, Duran's instability makes him a risky proposition for any markets involving individual player performance. His talent is undeniable, but predicting where he'll be in six months is anyone's guess. If you're betting on the Russian league, Zenit's title chances could get a boost if Duran rediscovers his Villa form.
Shortly after joining Al-Nassr, Duran posted on Instagram: "Don't try to please everybody - that ain't good." He's certainly living by those words. Whether this constant moving helps or hurts his career remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: Jhon Duran does things his own way.
