Benfica Set to Sign Duran on Loan from Al-Nassr
Benfica are closing in on a deal for Colombian international Duran, a move that could offer the 22-year-old a lifeline and hand Marco Silva another weapon for a long, demanding season.
According to Portuguese outlet A Bola, the forward is set to join on loan from Al-Nassr, with the Saudi club willing to shoulder most of his sizeable wages to make the transfer happen. For Benfica, it is a low-risk punt on a player whose ceiling once tempted Al-Nassr into a staggering €77 million outlay.
From €77m marquee signing to surplus
Duran’s story in Saudi Arabia never caught fire. Signed in January 2025 on a contract running until 2030 and reportedly worth around €20m per year, he arrived at Al-Nassr as a statement signing, a forward meant to dominate both domestically and in Asia.
Instead, the numbers tell a stark tale: just 18 appearances across all competitions. No rhythm, no real run of games, and no sign that he could justify the fee or the salary attached to his name.
This week, Al-Nassr CEO Jose Semedo effectively drew a line under the experiment, giving Duran the green light to find a new club and rebuild a career that has stalled at an alarming rate.
Loans, setbacks and a World Cup omission
The decline did not begin in Saudi Arabia alone. Before this Benfica move, Duran had already drifted through unsuccessful loan spells at Fenerbahce and Zenit St Petersburg. In Russia, his situation deteriorated further, with disciplinary issues leading to his exclusion from the first-team squad.
For a player capped 17 times by Colombia, the lack of consistent club football proved brutal. When Colombia named their squad for the 2026 World Cup, Duran’s name was missing. For a 22-year-old once tipped to be a central figure for the national team, that omission cut deep.
Now, the route back runs through Lisbon.
Immediate role under Marco Silva
Duran is expected in the Portuguese capital in the coming days to undergo his medical and finalise the move. Once the formalities are complete, he will go straight into Marco Silva’s pre-season programme, with Benfica keen to accelerate his tactical and physical integration.
Silva inherits a forward with obvious raw talent but a recent history of frustration and inconsistency. Benfica, though, see opportunity. A heavily subsidised wage bill, no long-term financial risk, and a player with something to prove in a league that has long been a launchpad for South American attackers.
Benfica’s attacking puzzle
Benfica are preparing for a season that will stretch them on multiple fronts: the domestic title race and the new-look Champions League league phase. Depth in attack is not a luxury; it is a necessity.
Duran’s arrival is designed to add power, mobility and a direct threat to a frontline that will be asked to play twice a week at high intensity. If he adapts quickly to Silva’s demands and the rhythm of Portuguese football, he offers Benfica a different profile in the final third.
For the club, it is a calculated gamble. For Duran, it feels like something else entirely: a last, sharp chance to show that the player Al-Nassr paid €77m for is still in there, waiting to surface under the lights of the Estadio da Luz.
