Benfica Sign Duran on Big-Money Loan as Colombian Aims for Glory

Benfica have made a statement move for their forward line, confirming the arrival of Colombian striker Duran from Al-Nassr on a season-long loan for the 2026-27 campaign.

This is no low-key punt. The Lisbon club will pay €6.1 million for the one-year deal, with an option to turn it permanent for €30m at the end of the season. Serious money, and a clear sign they see the 22-year-old as more than just depth.

“Biggest club in Portugal”

Duran wasted no time leaning into the size of the stage he’s just stepped onto.

“I’m very grateful to God, just as I said when I arrived,” he said after completing the move. “I’m happy! I still say that it’s the biggest club in Portugal. I’m very grateful to be here. I have very high expectations for my time here. I want to play well, give it my all, and become a champion.”

The message is blunt: he hasn’t come to hide in the rotation. He wants minutes, goals, and medals.

A fast-track career

Duran’s rise has been relentless. He first broke through at Envigado, one of Colombia’s most productive talent factories, before earning a move to MLS with Chicago Fire. His performances there pushed his name into wider view and, by January 2023, he was in the Premier League with Aston Villa.

From there, his price tag exploded. Al-Nassr signed him in a deal worth €77m, a figure that underlined both his potential and the expectation that comes with it. Loan spells at Fenerbahce and Zenit followed, giving him a crash course in European football’s different demands and atmospheres.

Now he lands in Lisbon with that experience behind him and a point to prove.

All-in for Benfica

Back on European soil and in one of the continent’s most demanding football cities, Duran has already nailed down his promise to the supporters.

“I want to work hard and help my team,” he said. Simple words, but at a club like Benfica, they are the minimum entry fee.

At 22, he already carries 17 caps and three goals for Colombia, bringing international pedigree to a dressing room built to compete domestically and in Europe. Benfica, for their part, have structured a deal that gives them a full season to decide whether he is worth a long-term investment at €30m.

If Duran matches his ambition with output, the decision might not take that long.