Jhon Jader Durán Palacios (born 13 December 2003) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Russian Premier League club Zenit Saint Petersburg, on loan from Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr, and the Colombia national team.
Durán began his career at Envigado, making his professional debut in 2019. His performances earned him a move to Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire in 2022, where he scored 8 goals in 27 appearances. In January 2023, he joined Premier League club Aston Villa for a reported ã14.75 million, later transferring to Al-Nassr in January 2025 for ã64 million. In July 2025, he was loaned to Fenerbahçe for the 2025âÂÂ26 season.
Internationally, Durán debuted for the Colombia senior national team in September 2022 and was part of the squad that finished as runners-up in the 2024 Copa América.
Durán was born in Zaragoza, Antioquia, then moved with his family to Aranjuez neighbourhood in MedellÃÂn.
Durán made his professional debut for Envigado on 13 February 2019 against Jaguares de Córdoba in the Copa Colombia, having played for the club at youth level since he was 11 years old. Durán scored his first goal on 1 September, in his third appearance for the club, against ÃÂguilas Doradas Rionegro. This made Durán the second-youngest goalscorer in CategorÃÂa Primera A, at the age of 15 years and 8 months.
In October 2020, Durán was included in The Guardians "60 of the best young talents in world football" list.
On 11 January 2021, Chicago Fire announced an agreement to acquire Durán from Envigado on an initial three-year deal, with options in place for a further two years. The contract would begin on 1 January 2022. The transfer fee was reported to be ã1.5 million. The signing was sanctioned by Chicago Fire's technical director Sebastian Pelzer, who spotted 17-year old Durán while watching another player at his former club.
Durán made his Chicago Fire debut on 26 February 2022 against Inter Miami. He scored his first goal for the club on 14 May 2022 against FC Cincinnati.
On 16 January 2023, Premier League club Aston Villa announced an agreement to sign Durán: subject to a medical, personal terms and a work visa. Durán left the Colombian camp for the 2023 South American U-20 Championship to fly to England to complete the transfer, which was made official on 23 January. The transfer fee was reported to be an initial ã14.75 million, with the potential of a further ã3 million in add-ons. On 4 February, Durán made his Premier League debut as a late substitute in a 4âÂÂ2 defeat to Leicester City.
On 20 August, Durán scored his first Villa goal as a substitute in a 4âÂÂ0 win against Everton. On 31 August, Durán scored his first goal in a European competition in a 3âÂÂ0 UEFA Europa Conference League victory over Scottish club Hibernian. In September, Durán scored a chested half-volley in a league game against Crystal Palace, which went on to be awarded Villa's Goal of the Season at the club's End of Season Awards ceremony. On 13 May 2024, he scored his first (and only) brace at the club by netting late goals in a 3âÂÂ3 draw against Liverpool following a two-goal deficit, keeping his club's pursuit for a UEFA Champions League berth.
While being linked with transfers to West Ham United and Chelsea, Durán was not included in Villa's pre-season squad, and caused controversy by emulating West Ham's "hammers" gesture in a livestream. However, on 17 August, Durán scored the winning goal in a 2âÂÂ1 victory over West Ham, having started as a substitute, celebrating by reinstating his commitment to Villa. He then scored consecutive winning goals as a substitute against Leicester City and Everton, with the latter being a widely lauded long-range effort. On 2 October, he scored his first Champions League goal, securing a 1âÂÂ0 victory against Bayern Munich by lobbing Manuel Neuer from distance. Five days later, Durán signed a new contract with Villa until 2030. On the same day, his goal against Everton was named BBC Goal of the Month for September. Durán was named Villa's player of the month for September, and his goal against Everton was also awarded the official Premier League Goal of the Month award for that month. On 26 December, Durán was sent off in a league game against Newcastle United, and was subsequently fined and banned for three games.
On 31 January 2025, Durán joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr from Aston Villa for an undisclosed fee, reported to be ã64 million plus add-ons. He scored twice in his Saudi Pro League debut on 7 February in a 3âÂÂ0 home win over Al-Fayha.
On 6 July 2025, Durán was loaned to Turkish Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe for the 2025âÂÂ26 season.
On 6 August 2025, he made his debut with Fenerbahçe in a UEFA Champions League third qualifying round match against Feyenoord as a substitute in 2âÂÂ1 away loss. On 12 August, he scored his first goal for Fenerbahçe in the second leg against Feyenoord, a 5âÂÂ2 home victory. On 16 August, he made his Süper Lig debut against Göztepe in a 0âÂÂ0 away draw.
On 23 October 2025, he returned to the field after a 58-day treatment period following a diagnosis of osteoarthritis, as an 87th minute substitute in a 1âÂÂ0 win against VfB Stuttgart in the UEFA Europa League. On 2 November, he scored his first league goal for Fenerbahçe against rivals Beà Âiktaà  in a 3âÂÂ2 away victory. On 1 December, he scored in another derby, in 1âÂÂ1 Süper Lig tie in the intercontinental derby against Galatasaray.
On 9 February 2026, Durán moved on a new loan to Russian Premier League club Zenit St. Petersburg until the end of the 2025âÂÂ26 season.
Durán represented the Colombia national under-17 team at the 2019 South American U-17 Championship.
Durán made his senior international debut for Colombia against Guatemala on 24 September 2022, replacing Radamel Falcao as a half-time substitute. On 28 March 2023, he scored his first international goal against Japan, on his first full appearance for the Colombian team.
Fenerbahçe
Colombia
Individual