Ex-Aston Villa star Jhon Duran terminates loan and joins shock third new club in a year

Jhon Duran has joined Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg on loan after leaving Fenerbahce.

The striker had been on a season-long loan in Turkey from parent club Al Nassr.

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However, Duran terminated his spell at Fenerbahce to head to Zenit until the end of the season.

His temporary move does not include an option to make the deal permanent in the summer.

Zenit currently sit second in the Russian Premier League, one point behind leaders Krasnodar.

Duran could make his debut in his new club’s first match following the winter break at home to Baltika on February 27.

The 11-time Russian champions had won six consecutive league titles before missing out last season.

Meanwhile, Zenit also won the UEFA Cup in 2008, but have not played in Europe since 2022 due to Russia’s ban by UEFA following the invasion of Ukraine.

It becomes the third new club for Duran since leaving Aston Villa for Al Nassr in January 2025.

Just six months after signing a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Saudi Pro League outfit, he moved to Fenerbahce.

Duran went on to score five goals in 21 appearances for the club, having had his start to the season disrupted by injury.

The 22-year-old was out of action for two months with a bone injury.

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He also missed Fenerbahce’s last two matches before leaving for Zenit with a thigh problem.

talkSPORT verdict on Jhon Duran

European football journalist Andy Brassell summarised Duran’s time in Turkey back in December.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, he explained: “A lot of his season so far has been stymied by injury, but I guess if you’re a Villa fan, you already know the story.

“When he’s good, he looks better than anyone else. When he’s not good, you’re just left scratching your head, really.

“So, I guess Jhon Duran isn’t in a massively different place than he was when he left Villa in the first place because we’ve seen him impact some big matches in a very positive way.

“His first goal for Fenerbahce was the equaliser in the 95th minute in the Intercontinental derby against Galatasaray. There’s nothing that could make you more popular.

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“We’re talking about Gazza scoring in the Rome derby for Lazio against Roma. That sort of thing.

“That one goal covers a multitude of sins, I suspect, but when Jhon Duran is playing well, he’s so incredibly convincing.”

Duran scored 20 goals in 78 appearances for Villa during two years in England, before finding the net 12 times in 18 matches for Al Nassr.

The Colombian international will be aiming to recreate that goalscoring form after joining the sixth club of his senior career.