Mourinho raids Al Nassr as Fenerbahçe line up Jhon Durán loan | OneFootball

Fenerbahçe is closing in on a season-long loan deal for Jhon Durán, with the Turkish club reaching a verbal agreement with Al Nassr. The latest from Fabrizio Romano and multiple Turkish media outlets suggests the transfer is set to be finalized soon. Durán, 21, could arrive in Istanbul as early as next week as the final details are ironed out.

Al Nassr has given the green light to Durán’s move, allowing the striker to pursue a return to European football after a challenging spell in Saudi Arabia. Despite registering 12 goals in 18 appearances for Al Nassr and netting four times in five AFC Champions League fixtures, Durán struggled to settle both on and off the pitch. Reports indicate he found it difficult to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia and had trouble fitting into the team’s system under former manager Stefano Pioli. Tensions reportedly arose with Cristiano Ronaldo regarding playing time.

Financially, no loan fee has been reported, but Fenerbahçe will cover Durán’s full wages, estimated at €15 million net per season. His current contract with Al Nassr, signed in January 2025 following a €77 million move from Aston Villa, runs until June 2030. The Colombian forward’s market value is listed at €35 million, underscoring the scale of Fenerbahçe’s commitment.

José Mourinho, recently appointed at Fenerbahçe, has played a direct role in pursuing Durán. Turkish media report that Mourinho views the striker as a strong fit for the Süper Lig and for the squad’s current needs. With Edin Džeko, now 39, the only natural number nine in the squad, Fenerbahçe is seeking to add both youth and physical presence up front. Durán’s statistics from last season—50% shot accuracy and 1.8 key passes per match—highlight the potential impact in terms of finishing and hold-up play.

Fenerbahçe’s approach to this transfer window has been aggressive, with spending topping €50 million, though the club has increasingly looked to loan deals for high-profile names. The structure of Durán’s salary means Fenerbahçe might need to offload other players to balance the wage bill. There are also unconfirmed reports of interest from Premier League and Serie A clubs, though Fenerbahçe remains the frontrunner.

Fan responses have been varied. Fenerbahçe supporters express enthusiasm about the attacking upgrade but raise questions about adaptation, reflecting mixed experiences with South American signings in the past. Al Nassr fans appear split, with some expressing disappointment at Durán’s departure, while others cite Ronaldo’s influence on squad hierarchy as a contributing factor.

No official statement has been made by Al Nassr, but all indications point toward their openness to the loan as they look to reshape their attacking options, including interest in bringing in a new striker.

With the deal’s likelihood reported at 90 percent by sources close to the negotiation, attention is now on the final logistical details before Durán’s expected arrival in Istanbul.

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