- Richard Rios joined Benfica from Palmeiras for €27M on a contract until 2030
- Rios turned down offers from Zenit and Roma to join the Portuguese giants
- Joao Felix is expected to return to Benfica, with Chelsea accepting a €25M deal for 50% of his rights
Key Takeaways:
Benfica have officially announced the signing of Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios. The 25-year-old Colombian signed a long-term deal with the Portuguese giants, committing to the club until the summer of 2030. The transfer fee is reported to be €27 million.
Rios had attracted interest from Zenit, but he rejected the Russian club’s proposal as he did not want to play in Russia. Italian side Roma were also in the race, but in the end, the midfielder chose to continue his career in Lisbon.
Last season, Rios made 36 appearances for Palmeiras across all competitions, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists.
🚨 Benfica está disposto a pagar 25 MILHÕES DE EUROS por 50% do passe de João Félix, revelam os jornalistas @sergiolpereira e Bruno Andrade no @maisfutebol. pic.twitter.com/ero07b76Qc
— Diário de Transferências (@DTransferencias) July 22, 2025
Meanwhile, Benfica are on the verge of bringing back striker Joao Felix. According to Portuguese outlet Record, Chelsea have accepted the proposal to sell 50% of the player’s rights for €25 million.
The transfer is expected to be finalised by the end of the week, and there is a possibility that Felix could debut on Saturday in a friendly match against Fenerbahce, managed by Jose Mourinho. Earlier reports revealed that the Portuguese international had already reached a verbal agreement with Benfica, and only the final financial terms between the clubs remain to be settled.