Could NEC Nijmegen midfielder be the answer for Benfica?

Benfica could look toward NEC Nijmegen’s rising star Kodai Sano as they look to bolster their midfield ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The 22-year-old Japanese international has exploded onto the scene in the Eredivisie, drawing Premier League and European interest after rejecting big-money bids in January. Sano joined NEC from J2 League side Fagiano Okayama in August 2023 for just €500,000
.

The then 19-year-old had already shown promise in Japan, featuring regularly in the second tier with solid ball progression and defensive metrics. In his debut Eredivisie campaign (2023/24), he quickly adapted, logging key appearances and building toward his breakout 2025/26 season, where he has started 28 league matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 7 assists while averaging over 7.6 in player ratings. 

Sano could cost Benfica €15-18 million including add-ons, a reasonable fee for a young, high-upside talent with a contract until 2028. His biggest strengths lie in his dynamic box-to-box profile, elite dribbling and vision to break lines, strong passing range, ball interception and tireless defensive work rate.

Versatile enough for central or attacking midfield roles, the right-footed dynamo excels at turning defense into attack with sharp transitions and distance shooting.

If Benfica can secure Sano this summer, he’d add another piece of youthful energy and technical quality to Jose Mourinho’s project, potentially becoming a long-term star at the Estadio da Luz as Benfica look towards silverware in the 2026-27 season.