Benfica sign Palhinha from Bayern in potential €19M deal

Agence France-Presse ·
SEOGWIPO, SOUTH KOREA - AUGUST 04: Joao Palhinha of FC Bayern Muenchen walks out onto the pitch prior to the Audi Football Summit 2026 match between FC Bayern München and Jeju at Jeju World Cup Stadium on August 04, 2026 in Seogwipo, South Korea.
S. Stingl / FC Bayern / Getty

Portuguese side Benfica signed Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich on Wednesday for a fee which could rise to 19 million euros ($22 million).

The midfielder signed a deal until 2030 with Benfica and joins for an initial 14 million euros with five more to be paid in potential bonuses.

"The 31-year-old Portugal international is returning to his home city of Lisbon, where he began his professional career at Sporting," said Bayern in a statement.

Benfica said the midfielder had a 50 million euro release clause in his deal.

Bayern signed Palhinha from Fulham in 2024 and he won the Bundesliga with the German giants in 2025, before being loaned to Tottenham last season.

The midfielder had been linked to Premier League side Aston Villa earlier this summer.

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