Jose Mourinho gets his man! Fenerbahce confirm loan signing of Jhon Duran from Al-Nassr just months after striker left Aston Villa for Saudi Pro League

Jhon Duran Al-Nassr 2024-25

Fenerbahce have announced the loan signing of Jhon Duran, just months after the striker departed Aston Villa for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.

WHAT HAPPENED?

In an announcement on the club website, Fenerbahce have revealed that 21-year-old striker Duran has joined on a season-long loan from Cristiano Ronaldo-captained Al-Nassr, whom he only joined in January. In the short message, Fenerbahce said they hope Duran will have "a season full of success" in their yellow-and-navy striped kit.

Jhon Duran Cristiano Ronaldo Nassr

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Duran is not the first or only player to depart Saudi Arabia after just a few months; current Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson is another notable example. Duran scored 12 in 18 games for Al-Nassr, reaching 50 career goals in the process, but has decided to begin a new chapter and now has the opportunity to be managed by Jose Mourinho.

DID YOU KNOW?

Duran broke through at Envigado in his native Colombia at a very young age, making his professional debut aged just 15 years and two months, before scoring his first goal for the club six months later. Since then, he has played in the MLS, the Premier League, Saudi Arabia and now Turkiye, showing early signs of becoming a mercurial journeyman striker.

Jhon Duran Aston Villa 2024-25

WHAT NEXT FOR DURAN?

Duran will join up with his new Fenerbahce teammates and may get a chance to return to the Champions League, where he shone with Aston Villa last autumn if he and his new side can manage to get through the qualifying rounds. Duran may return to Europe permanently if the loan move goes well, or this could equally just be a detour before he continues to ply his trade in the Saudi Pro League in 2026.