Transfer News: Benfica sign former Villa star Duran on loan, PSG eye Spain hero Torres
Fenerbahce's Jhon Duran, center, plays the ball during a Europa League opening phase soccer match between Fenerbahce and Aston Villa, in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Former Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has joined Benfica on a season-long loan deal from Al-Nassr with a view to making a permanent £25.5m switch.
The 22-year-old Colombia international, a team-mate of Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, will spend the 2026-27 season with the Portuguese club, who have paid €6.1m for his services and also negotiated a €30m option to buy.
Duran, who joined Al-Nassr in a £64m switch from Villa in January 2025, told Benfica’s official website: “I’m very grateful to God, just as I said when I arrived. 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.”
Meanwhile, Bournemouth view Alex Scott as being not for sale this summer despite the midfielder rejecting a new contract, the Press Association understands.
Scott, who featured in England’s training camp in Miami before he missed out on the 25-man World Cup squad, has two years to run on his current terms with the south coast club.
An impressive 2025-26 campaign, where Scott scored four times in 39 appearances, has earned admirers at Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, but Bournemouth’s stance on the 22-year-old remains unchanged, PA understands.
Sources at Bournemouth have told PA that Scott is not currently valued at any price because he is deemed unsellable this summer.
The Cherries, who will play continental football for the first time this season in the Europa League, expect Scott to be part of their playing group under new boss Marco Rose for the upcoming campaign – even if he remains on his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2028.
Scott has so far been unable to agree fresh terms with Bournemouth and rejected their latest offer, but the Premier League club are still hopeful of tying down the former Bristol City youngster to a new deal.
Elsewhere, Ipswich have signed Dutch goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen from Volendam.
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Van Oevelen, 22, joins the newly promoted club on a five-year deal for a reported fee of four million euros (£3.4m).
“As soon as I knew Ipswich were interested, it was a move I knew I wanted to make,” Kayne said on the Suffolk club’s website.
“It is an exciting time for the club, being back in the Premier League, and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone and getting started.” Town boss Gary O’Neil is confident Van Oevelen can prove a solid addition to his squad.
“He is a young goalkeeper who has had a good taste of senior football with Volendam and wants to continue to progress his career in England,” O’Neil said.
Ipswich have also completed the signing of Ghana winger Abdul Fatawu from Leicester and also agreed a deal to sign Japan forward Daizen Maeda from Celtic.
Fatawu, 22, has signed a five-year contract at Portman Road, for a reported £20m fee.
“The ambition the club has is very exciting and I am looking forward to being a part of that as we prepare for the Premier League season,” said Fatawu, who played at the World Cup in the group stages, including against England.
Town boss Gary O’Neil is confident Fatawu can continue his development with the Suffolk club.
“He has strong physical and technical attributes, is comfortable on the ball and can test the opposition in one-on-one situations, so will provide us with good options within the squad,” O’Neil said on the Ipswich website.
Maeda is set to join the newly-promoted side for £8m, with an additional £2m depending on Town staying up and his appearances, PA understands.
The 28-year-old was coming into the final 12 months of his Celtic contract, having joined from Yokohama F Marinos in January 2022 and winning five Scottish Premiership titles as well as the Scottish Cup three times.
Once the formalities of his move are complete, Maeda – who played for Japan at the World Cup, qualifying for the knockout stage where they lost to Brazil in the last 32 – is set to join up with the rest of Gary O’Neil’s squad on their pre-season training camp in La Manga, Spain.
In other transfer news, Former Chelsea and Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey has joined QPR on a free transfer after leaving Serie A club Fiorentina.
Lamptey – who represented Ghana at the 2022 World Cup and has won 11 caps – made 122 appearances for Brighton before moving to Italy last September.
“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead,” Lamptey, 25, told the official club website.
“The team have ambitious goals for this season, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Ireland defender Matt Doherty has signed for Sheffield United, having severed his ties with Wolves after two spells.
Doherty (34), who won the last of his 53 caps in the World Cup qualification opener against Hungary last September, joins the Championship outfit on an initial one-year deal, with the option of a further year.
The 34-year-old has made almost 400 appearances for Wolves but last season petered out into relegation, leading to a major exodus.
On the rumour mill, Paris St Germain are keen to sign Barcelona’s World Cup winner Ferran Torres, claims.
The 26-year-old, who scored the only goal in Spain’s final victory over Argentina on Sunday, has struggled to establish himself as a regular starter at the Nou Camp, and the Champions League winners want to lure him to the Parc des Princes this summer.
Chelsea have stepped up their interest in Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, according to .
However the Blues, who have already opened talks with Palace over the 26-year-old France international, will reportedly have to pay around £60m to secure his services.
Roma have submitted a fresh offer for West Ham winger Crysencio Summerville, .
However the Serie A side, whose initial bid for the Netherlands international amounted to £39m, are yet to meet the Hammers’ valuation.
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