Aston Villa news: Duran's chances of completing return revealed after 'crazy' twist

Aston Villa News: Jhon Duran's Chances of Completing Return Revealed After 'Crazy' Twist

Jhon Duran, the 22-year-old Colombian striker, faces slim chances of returning to Aston Villa or Premier League football anytime soon, despite his past promise at the club, sources reveal. His dramatic journey since leaving Villa in January 2025 has been marked by a "crazy twist" of transfers, injuries, and controversies that have derailed a potential homecoming.[4][1]

Duran burst onto the scene at Villa after a record move from Chicago Fire in 2023. As a super-sub, he scored stunning goals, including a long-range winner against Everton and a late strike versus Bayern Munich in the Champions League. In his breakout 2024-25 season, he netted seven Premier League goals in half a season, but frustrations over limited starts grew amid links to Arsenal and Barcelona.[3][1]

The turning point came with a straight red card against Newcastle in late 2024, earning a three-match suspension during a red-hot streak. This "crazy twist" cost Villa momentum and expedited Duran's £65-77 million exit to Al-Nassr, where he briefly teamed with Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring four goals in his first two league games before form dipped.[1][2][3]

Now at Fenerbahce after another move, Duran has five goals in 19 appearances this season but battles injuries—an undisclosed issue lists his estimated return as February 19, 2026. He'll face former club Villa in a Europa League clash, adding intrigue, but pundits note his stop-start career, temperament issues, and lack of Colombia national team action since June 2025 make a Premier League return unlikely.[1][2]

While Emery once backed his development, sources emphasize Duran's path has veered too far from England. Fans ponder "what if" that red card never happened, but his Saudi and Turkish stints signal a new chapter.[4][1]

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