Benfica player says goodbye to team-mates, set for Ligue 1 runners-up | OneFootball

Franjo Ivanovic is on his way out of Benfica, and his goodbye to the Luz is expected to be made official in the coming days. The Croatian striker has already said farewell to his teammates and is preparing to travel to France, where he is expected to sign for Lens.

The move will be completed as a loan deal, with an option to buy, in a transfer that should bring the Croatian international’s spell at the Club of the Luz to an end. Ivanovic’s future had at one point seemed destined for Italy. Benfica and Lazio had reached an agreement for a temporary move, with a purchase option that could become mandatory if certain targets were met.

However, the player’s wishes ultimately prevailed. Ivanovic prefers to play for Lens, mainly because of the chance to compete in the Champions League, a competition he wants to play in next season. The French club therefore managed to beat off competition from Lazio and secure the striker’s preference.

Ivanovic joined Benfica in the summer of 2025 from Union SG, in a deal valued at €22 million. In his first season wearing the eagle on his chest, the 22-year-old striker made 42 appearances, scoring eight goals and providing two assists.

Despite those numbers, the arrival of new attacking options ended up reducing the Croatian international’s place in Marco Silva’s plans. Now, Ivanovic is one step away from swapping Benfica for Lens, with the Champions League emerging as one of the main reasons behind the striker’s decision.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.