Fakayejo Paul
It is officially confirmed and signed: Jhon Durán is a new Zenit St. Petersburg player. The Colombian striker has completed his move to Russia on loan from Al Nassr for the remainder of the season.
The deal ends a complicated month for the 22-year-old, who requested to terminate his loan at Fenerbahçe after a difficult spell in Istanbul under José Mourinho.
The Deal at a Glance
- The Formula: A straight loan until June 30, 2026.
- The Finances: Zenit will pay a loan fee of approximately €4 million (including bonuses) to Al Nassr and will cover Durán’s high wage package.
- No Buy Option: Much like his previous loan, Al Nassr have not included a purchase clause, as they still value the player highly following their £64m investment in 2025.
- The nomadic path: In just over a year, Durán has now been on the books of Aston Villa, Al Nassr, Fenerbahçe, and now Zenit.
Why Zenit?
Zenit moved quickly to secure Durán after he was offered to several Premier League clubs—including Tottenham—on Deadline Day. With Zenit currently second in the Russian Premier League, manager Sergei Semak views Durán as the “X-factor” needed to overtake Krasnodar in the title race.
Durán has already been assigned the No. 9 shirt and is expected to make his debut later this month when the Russian league resumes.