Talk about a whirlwind career. Jhon Duran is about to join his sixth professional club, and he's only 22 years old. The Colombian striker has cancelled his loan at Turkish giants Fenerbahce and is now heading to Russian side Zenit St Petersburg.
It's been a crazy 12 months for the young forward. He left Aston Villa in January 2025 for a massive £71m move to Al-Nassr, where he got to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Not a bad experience for a 21-year-old, right?
But things didn't quite work out in Saudi Arabia. Despite scoring eight goals in 13 appearances, Duran was on the move again after just six months. Al-Nassr finished third in the Saudi Pro League, and the striker found himself loaned to Fenerbahce for a fresh start.
His time in Turkey was brief too. He managed only 10 league games and three goals, though he did help Fenerbahce win the Turkish Super Cup against Galatasaray last month. Still, it wasn't enough to keep him there.
From Villa Hero to Globetrotter
Let's rewind a bit. Duran started at Envigado in Colombia before joining Chicago Fire at 18. Aston Villa snapped him up in January 2023 for around £14m, and he quickly became a fan favourite with his direct, aggressive style.
Remember that screamer against Bayern Munich in the Champions League? Or those two goals against Liverpool that helped Villa secure Champions League football? The kid had talent, no doubt about it. He scored Villa's goal of the season against Crystal Palace and looked destined for greatness at Villa Park.
But there were always whispers about his commitment. He flirted with a West Ham move, even posting an 'irons' gesture on social media that angered Villa fans. The transfer fell through, and though he scored against West Ham to seemingly prove his loyalty, problems persisted behind the scenes.
Villa boss Unai Emery struggled to fit both Duran and star striker Ollie Watkins into the same team. Teammate Morgan Rogers called Duran "the most chilled, relaxed person I've ever met" off the pitch, but "a different animal" when playing. After a red card against Newcastle on Boxing Day 2024, Duran's Villa days were numbered. Emery seemed relieved when the Al-Nassr deal went through, saying it was "good news" with "good money" involved.
Why Russia and What's Next?
So why is a talented 22-year-old heading to Russia, where clubs are banned from European competitions? Reports suggest Duran never really settled in Saudi Arabia, allegedly living in Bahrain, 300 miles from Riyadh. He didn't fit at Fenerbahce either, especially after Jose Mourinho got sacked just a month after Duran arrived.
Zenit St Petersburg currently sits second in the Russian Super League and draws big crowds. For Duran, it's another chance to prove himself, though it feels like a step backwards for someone who was playing Champions League football less than two years ago.
For bettors watching Duran's career, his unpredictability makes him fascinating. When he's on form, he can change games with spectacular goals. But his inability to settle anywhere raises questions about his long-term prospects. Zenit backers might get a bargain if he rediscovers his Villa form, but his track record suggests this might not be his final destination either.
Duran once posted on Instagram: "Don't try to please everybody - that ain't good." He's certainly living by that motto, following his own unusual path through world football. Whether it leads to success or more moves remains to be seen.
