Jhon Duran’s slide from Villa starlet to Zenit move into Russian obscurity | OneFootball

At 22, Jhon Duran has made his sixth club switch, choosing Zenit St Petersburg and a move that takes him further from Europe’s glare. Little more than a year after links to Real Madrid, Bayern and Chelsea, he is now outside UEFA competition.

According to Goal.com, the Colombian’s surge at Aston Villa in early 2024-25 was explosive, four goals in the first five Premier League games as a substitute and Champions League heroics, including a late winner against Bayern. Yet Ollie Watkins kept the starting berth, and Duran’s frustration spilled over with a dugout outburst against Bologna.

Interest from Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Chelsea followed despite a new deal. Given his first league start, he scored against Southampton, then Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, but a Boxing Day red card at Newcastle brought a three-game ban and reduced minutes.

By late January 2025, Al-Nassr took him as Villa balanced PSR and the two‑striker puzzle. He scored four in his first two league outings, then struggled to settle and, despite 12 in 18, many fans wanted him moved on. He chose a loan to Fenerbahçe in Türkiye over Premier League suitors.

Allegations of a missed first pre-season day were denied by Fenerbahçe, José Mourinho soon left after failing to reach the Champions League proper, and Duran then endured a bone inflammation lay-off until November, with president Sadettin Saran rejecting claims he was feigning injury. He scored five in 21, his attitude questioned, and the loan ended in early February.

Duran has now joined Zenit for the rest of 2025-26 on a deal that includes an option to buy, not an obligation. He says the club’s aims impressed him and believes this path suits his family, while coach Sergei Semak expects him to be motivated for the World Cup and to compete with John Cordoba.

Source: Goal.com