BENFICA PREPARE €20M OFFER TO BUY 50% OF JOAO FELIX AS ATLETICO MADRID FORWARD ACCEPTS SALARY CUT FOR LISBON RETURN
Benfica are making a serious push to re-sign academy graduate João Félix—six years after selling him in a record-breaking transfer. The Portuguese giants are preparing a €20 million offer to purchase 50% of the player’s sporting rights, as Félix signals his intent to return home and restart his career.
Benfica are structuring the offer around a co-ownership arrangement, which would allow them to share the player’s registration and potential resale value with his current club. The deal includes a €20 million payment for half of Félix’s rights, shared control over his sporting future, and a proposed contract running through 2029. This approach allows Benfica to bring back a marquee name without exceeding their financial limits.
Once considered one of Europe’s brightest young stars, João Félix’s career has taken an uncertain path since leaving Lisbon in 2019. While he’s shown flashes of his talent during loan spells at clubs like Barcelona and in England, his career has lacked consistency. Now 25, Félix is determined to find stability and form in a system that suits his strengths. He is said to be fully committed to the move and has agreed to a significant pay cut to make it happen—prioritizing playing time, connection, and career revival over high wages.
Benfica see his return as more than an emotional reunion. The club lacks a pure creative attacker who can control the tempo in the final third. Félix, who thrives in free-roaming roles between the lines, fits perfectly into their attacking setup. His return would also be a commercial success, boosting visibility, shirt sales, and fan engagement both locally and internationally. Additionally, with his deep understanding of the club’s culture and expectations, he would step in as a natural leader in the dressing room.
From the selling club’s perspective, Félix is no longer central to their plans. Offloading him—even partially—makes sense financially and strategically. His wages are among the highest on the books, and his sale frees up room for reinforcements. By retaining 50% of his rights, they still have a chance to benefit from a future sale if Félix’s value rebounds at Benfica.
At just 25 years old, João Félix still has time to fulfill the potential that once made him one of football’s most valuable players. He originally burst onto the scene at Benfica during the 2018/19 season, scoring 20 goals and providing 11 assists across competitions. His subsequent €126 million move was one of the biggest in Portuguese football history, but since then, his journey has included multiple loans and uncertain fits at various clubs.
Talks between Benfica and the player’s camp are well advanced. Personal terms are understood to be agreed. The club is finalizing the structure of the offer, and the selling club is evaluating the proposal. Salary adjustments are being worked on to fit Benfica’s structure. If successful, Félix could be unveiled before the start of pre-season.
João Félix’s return to Benfica could become one of the most memorable and meaningful transfers of the summer. It’s a story of redemption, opportunity, and timing—for both player and club. Benfica are not just reviving a fan favorite—they’re investing in a long-term vision. And Félix, now more mature and focused, may finally find the stage he needs to truly shine again.
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