Benfica's Ambitious Loan Move for Colombia Forward Duran

Benfica are closing on a bold attacking gamble, with Colombian international Duran set to arrive at Estadio da Luz on loan from Al-Nassr, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.

The 22-year-old is expected in Lisbon in the coming days to undergo a medical before joining Marco Silva’s squad, in a deal that underlines both Benfica’s ambition and the urgency around the player’s stalled career.

A €77m signing looking for a restart

Not long ago, Duran was one of the headline imports into the Saudi Pro League. Al-Nassr paid €77 million to prise the former Aston Villa striker away in January 2025, handing him a contract worth around €20m a year through to 2030.

The return has been meagre. Just 18 appearances across domestic and continental competitions, no sustained run, no real rhythm. A marquee signing who never truly got out of first gear.

Al-Nassr’s hierarchy have now accepted that he needs a reset. CEO Jose Semedo has given the green light for the forward to find a new club, and Benfica have moved quickly to position themselves as the stage for his revival.

To make the move viable, Al-Nassr are prepared to co-fund the deal and cover the vast majority of his substantial wages, a clear sign of how keen they are to see him play regularly elsewhere.

From stalled loans to a career crossroads

Duran’s path to Lisbon has been anything but smooth. Before the Benfica move took shape, his career drifted through unsuccessful loan spells at Fenerbahce and Zenit St Petersburg.

In Turkey, he never imposed himself. In Russia, things deteriorated further: disciplinary issues led to him being frozen out of the first-team squad, cutting short any chance of momentum.

The consequences were brutal at international level. Despite having 17 caps for Colombia, the lack of regular club football cost him dearly, with his name missing when the 2026 World Cup squad was announced. For a player once tipped as a long-term pillar of the national team, that omission stung.

Now comes the turning point. Benfica are not taking him as a project for the future; they want an immediate weapon for a demanding season.

Silva’s plans and Benfica’s attacking demands

Marco Silva is expected to integrate Duran straight into pre-season training, wasting no time in testing how the Colombian fits into Benfica’s tactical structure. The idea is clear: accelerate his adaptation, sharpen his match fitness, and see whether his profile can add a different edge to the attack.

Benfica’s frontline faces a heavy workload. A gruelling domestic campaign awaits, coupled with the expanded Champions League league phase that will push squad depth and versatility to the limit.

Duran offers power, mobility, and a direct threat in behind – at least on paper. If Silva can reconnect him with the instincts that persuaded Al-Nassr to invest €77m, Benfica gain a high-ceiling forward on a relatively low-risk loan.

If not, it becomes another chapter in a career that has threatened to ignite but keeps slipping back into frustration.

For club and player alike, this move is more than a change of scenery. It is a test of Benfica’s ability to rehabilitate high-talent, high-variance signings – and a test of whether Duran still has the edge to become the striker his early reputation promised.