Benfica will now travel to Italy to face Juventus next week in what many believe to be a battle for second spot in the group and a chance for a place in the competitions round of 16 next year. Juventus are coming off a 2-1 loss to group favourites PSG and will not be in a welcoming mode as they will look to end Benfica's current run. Benfica and Juventus are set to battle at the Allianz stadium on September 14.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Benfica open Champions League with a win
Sunday, September 4, 2022
Ins and Outs of what Benfica did during the transfer window
Benfica finished the summer transfer window with a positive €65M from what the club earned (€127.3M) and what the club spent (€62.3M), this total does not include the €40M the club will receive from qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
The Breakdown of Benfica's 2022 summer transfer season:
Player Exits:
Darwin Nunez to Liverpool for €75M + add ons
Roman Yaremchuk to Club Brugge for €16M + add ons
Everton to Flamengo for €13.5M
Jota to Celtic for €7.3M
Gedson Fernandes to Besiktas for €6M
Carlos Vinicius to Fulham for €5M
Pedro Pereira to Monza for €2.5M
Nuno Santos to Charlotte for €1M
Haris Seferovic loaned to Galatasaray for €1M
Pizzi to Al Wahda on free transfer
Jan Vertonghen to Anderlecht on free transfer
Mile Svilar to Roma on free transfer
Julian Weigl on loan to Borussia Mochengladbach
Soualiho Meite on loan to Cremonese
Gabriel on loan to Botafogo
Ferro on loan to Vitesse
Tiago Dantas on loan to PAOK
Valentino Lazaro returned to Inter Milan after loan spell
Nemanja Radonjic returned to Marseille after loan spell
Adel Taarabt became free agent
Player Arrivals:
David Neres from Shakhtar Donetsk for €15.3M
Fredrik Aursnes from Feyenoord for €13M
Enzo Fernandez from River Plate for €10M + add ons
Joao Victor from Corinthians for €8.5M
Alexander Bah from Slavia Prague for €8M
Petar Musa from Boavista for €5M
Julian Draxler on loan from PSG for €2.5M
John Brooks signed as free agent previously at Stuttgart
Mihailo Ristic signed as free agent previously at Montpellier
Florentino returned from loan at Getafe
Chiquinho returned from loan at Giresunspor
Henrique Araujo moved up from Benfica B
Samuel Soares moved up from Benfica B
Antonio Silva moved up from Benfica B
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Benfica make flurry of moves at deadline
Benfica announced the acquisition of winger Julian Draxler from PSG who will join the club on a season long loan for €2.5M, PSG will pay 80% of Draxler's salary and the loan does not include a buy option.
Benfica also acquired center back John Brooks on a free transfer, signing the 29 year old American for one season, the move helps shore up the middle of the defense, that thanks to injuries and departures had become rather thin. Brooks spent the past five season with Stuttgart in Germany.
Benfica sent midfielders Julian Weigl and Soualiho Meite out on loan for the season to Borussia Moenchengladbach and Cremonese, both midfielders loans include buy options, Weigl's option is for €15M and Meite's option has yet to be disclosed.
In an unexpected move, Fulham acquired striker Carlos Vinicius from Benfica for €5M, Vinicius was going into the second year of his loan at PSV which ended after the English club's move. Benfica will retain 50% of Vinicius' pass.
Benfica and center back Jan Vertonghen agreed to rescind the players contract, saving the club €3M on the final year of the deal. Vertonghen is already in Brussels and is set to sign with Anderlecht. Benfica did not stop there as the club and Adel Taarabt also mutually agreed to rescind the midfielders contract.
In a move that went under the radar, Benfica acquired center back Ricardo Teixeira from Leixoes for €300K, which gives the club 50% of the 21 year old's pass.
In an almost was move, current number one keeper Vlachodimos was set to join Ajax before the deal was halted at the final moments. Benfica were rumoured to have had a loan move set for PSG keeper Kaylor Navas as the replacement before the deal fell through.