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€77 million star slammed for snubbing Chelsea and making ‘insane’ transfer decision
Jhon Duran has signed for Al-Nassr from Aston Villa (Picture: Reuters) Jhon Duran has been accused of making an ‘insane’ transfer decision by former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf. Confirmation that Al-Nassr have signed 21-year-old Colombian forward from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee arrived on Friday. Although financial details were not disclosed by either club, reports suggest that the deal to sign the Colombia international was worth around €77 million plus add-ons. ‘Aston Villa can confirm that Jhon Duran has joined Al Nassr for an undisclosed fee. Everyone at Aston Villa would like to wish Jhon all the best in the next step of his professional career,’ Villa said in a statement. Duran, who joined from third tier U.S. club Chicago Fire FC II in 2023, scored 20 goals in 78 appearances and looked destined for a stellar career at one of Europe’s top clubs. Capped 15 times for his country, Duran will link-up with Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane at Al-Nassr, who are third in the Saudi Pro League standings with 38 points from 18 matches. In July, Duran appeared to be on the verge of signing for West Ham United, with British media reports saying he had agreed personal terms ahead of a move worth £35m. Al-Nassr are believed to have spent €77 million on Jhon Duran The switch never materialised and the Colombian then scored four league goals after coming off the bench in their first six games, including winners against West Ham United, Leicester City and Everton. Despite competition from Ollie Watkins, Duran has continued to thrive during the first half the season with his form alerting the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Mancheser United. The 21-year-old, however, appears to have committed the peak years of his career to the Saudi Pro League, much to the astonishment of Leboeuf. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page ‘At 20 no way, never,’ he told ESPNFC.’ Why do you want to leave top level football? That’s insane. ‘You have to have in your blood the love of football. With all due respect to the Saudi League it’s for almost retired players. I did that in Qatar, the same in the MLS, we’ve seen that before in Japan. ‘It’s not for a 20-year-old. There are people who will say he can come back. We had Fofana go from Lens to Saudi Arabia and then went back to Rennes. It doesn’t work because it’s too hard, you drop your level. John Duran had been coveted by the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal (Picture: Getty) ‘The Premier League is different, so much faster, much more tactical, everything. ‘When you leave to go there when you have a chance to join another club, I thought he would be a possibility to go to Chelsea, I heard that at some point, why do you want to go there? ‘I know you want to protect your family and your kids when you have one or two and your grandkids afer. But come on! ‘That’s not the thing to do right now. You have to think about football and the love of football and the fact you play at the top level. ‘That’s irresponsible from his agent to have pushed him to go there.’
Jhon Duran has been accused of making an ‘insane’ transfer decision by former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf.
Confirmation that Al-Nassr have signed 21-year-old Colombian forward from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee arrived on Friday.
Although financial details were not disclosed by either club, reports suggest that the deal to sign the Colombia international was worth around €77 million plus add-ons.
‘Aston Villa can confirm that Jhon Duran has joined Al Nassr for an undisclosed fee. Everyone at Aston Villa would like to wish Jhon all the best in the next step of his professional career,’ Villa said in a statement.
Duran, who joined from third tier U.S. club Chicago Fire FC II in 2023, scored 20 goals in 78 appearances and looked destined for a stellar career at one of Europe’s top clubs.
Capped 15 times for his country, Duran will link-up with Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mane at Al-Nassr, who are third in the Saudi Pro League standings with 38 points from 18 matches.
In July, Duran appeared to be on the verge of signing for West Ham United, with British media reports saying he had agreed personal terms ahead of a move worth £35m.
The switch never materialised and the Colombian then scored four league goals after coming off the bench in their first six games, including winners against West Ham United, Leicester City and Everton.
Despite competition from Ollie Watkins, Duran has continued to thrive during the first half the season with his form alerting the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Mancheser United.
The 21-year-old, however, appears to have committed the peak years of his career to the Saudi Pro League, much to the astonishment of Leboeuf.
‘At 20 no way, never,’ he told ESPNFC.’ Why do you want to leave top level football? That’s insane.
‘You have to have in your blood the love of football. With all due respect to the Saudi League it’s for almost retired players. I did that in Qatar, the same in the MLS, we’ve seen that before in Japan.
‘It’s not for a 20-year-old. There are people who will say he can come back. We had Fofana go from Lens to Saudi Arabia and then went back to Rennes. It doesn’t work because it’s too hard, you drop your level.
‘The Premier League is different, so much faster, much more tactical, everything.
‘When you leave to go there when you have a chance to join another club, I thought he would be a possibility to go to Chelsea, I heard that at some point, why do you want to go there?
‘I know you want to protect your family and your kids when you have one or two and your grandkids afer. But come on!
‘That’s not the thing to do right now. You have to think about football and the love of football and the fact you play at the top level.
‘That’s irresponsible from his agent to have pushed him to go there.’
