Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Benfica eye Wolverhampton defender Toti Gomes as defensive reinforcement

Benfica Blog
Benfica have quietly been linked with interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back Toti Gomes amid potential defensive reshuffles at the Estadio da Luz this summer. The 27-year-old, who is Wolves' club captain is said to be looking to depart the Wolves after their relegation from the Premier League this past season. His emergence as a target for Benfica could have something to do with the possible exits of key defenders Tomas Araujo or Antonio Silva. Club captain Nico Otamendi is already set to depart the club when his contract ends at the end of this month.

Born in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Toti began his youth career at Fontainhas (2014–2016), before moving to Cascais and then going to Estoril’s academy (2017–2018). He made his senior debut for Estoril in 2019, appearing in three league matches. In the summer of 2020, Wolves acquired him from Estoril for a measly €789K and loaned him to Swiss side Grasshoppers for the next two seasons where he excelled with 50 appearances and 3 goals, helping the club secure promotion from the Swiss Challenge League.

Since breaking into Wolves’ first team in 2022, Toti has amassed over 123 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals, while providing four helpers. A versatile left-footed defender who is capable of playing both centre-back or left-back, he scored his first Premier League goal in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in 2023. Reliable and consistent, he earned the Wolves captaincy in August 2025 and has earned two senior caps for Portugal.

Benfica value his experience, leadership qualities and composure under pressure. New manager Marco Silva knows him well from opposing him in England. Toti would add depth to a squad lacking a veteran presence and is a perfect replacement for the departing Otamendi. He would bolster a backline aiming for success in both the Portuguese League and Europe. A return to Portugal might just be what the doctor orders for Toti, despite his past soft spot for rivals FC Porto. 

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