Benfica Signs Joao Palhinha Until 2030 for €14 Million

Benfica has officially announced the signing of midfielder João Palhinha from Bayern Munich, in a deal that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2030.

Benfica has announced that the club has secured full rights to the player for €14 million, along with a maximum of €5 million in additional incentives tied to achieving specific goals. The player's contract includes a release clause valued at €50 million.

Palhinha expressed his great happiness at returning to Portuguese football and wearing the Benfica shirt, confirming his desire to give everything he has to help the team achieve its goals.

The player stated in an interview with Benfica TV: "The expectations are very high, as everyone knows, when you represent Benfica. At this moment, I am just another player here to help and give everything for the club."

He added: "I have no doubt that all members of the club and the fans are also looking forward to achieving titles."

Palhinha is 31 years old and began his career at the Sacavenense academy before moving to Sporting Lisbon in 2012. He then had several loan spells with Moreirense and Belenenses before establishing himself later with Sporting and Braga.

During his time with Sporting from 2020 to 2022, Palhinha appeared in 77 matches and scored 5 goals. He also won the Primeira Liga title, the Portuguese Super Cup, and the League Cup twice.

In the summer of 2022, he moved to Fulham, marking his first professional experience outside Portugal, where he became a key player in the team's lineup under coach Marco Silva. He played 79 matches over two seasons, scoring 7 goals.

His performances with Fulham caught the attention of Bayern Munich, who signed him in the summer of 2024. The player featured in 25 matches for the German club during the 2024-2025 season, contributing to the team's reclaiming of the Bundesliga title.

Last season, Bale returned to the Premier League on loan to Tottenham, where he scored 7 goals in 45 matches.

On the international stage, Palhinha represented Portugal at the U18, U19, and U20 levels, before making his senior debut in March 2021 against Azerbaijan in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He was also included in the squad that won the UEFA Nations League title in 2024-2025, and participated in the finals of the UEFA European Championship in 2020 and 2024, as well as the 2022 World Cup. He has 37 international caps with the senior national team.