Lenglet in Lisbon, first words as new Benfica signing | OneFootball

Clément Lenglet is already in Lisbon to make his move to Benfica official. The 31-year-old French centre-back arrived at Tires Airport in the morning and is expected to sign a contract valid for three seasons, until June 2029.

Upon arriving in Portugal, the French international confirmed the talks held with the club from Luz and showed enthusiasm for the new challenge. "I’m very happy. I spoke with Rui Costa and Marco Silva. Do I know Benfica players? Many, many", he told the journalists present.

Lenglet’s arrival fulfills a long-standing wish of Marco Silva. The Portuguese coach had already tried to sign the defender when he was in charge of Fulham, but the player chose to remain at clubs that allowed him to compete for titles in Europe’s top competitions. Despite losing some prominence last season while playing for Atlético Madrid, the centre-back still attracted interest from several clubs.

Among the interested parties were financially very attractive offers from Saudi Arabia, but Lenglet preferred to remain in European football and embrace Benfica’s project. The French international arrives at Luz after two seasons at Atlético Madrid, adding to a résumé that includes spells at some of Europe’s biggest clubs, such as Barcelona, Tottenham and Aston Villa.

It was precisely while playing for Barcelona that he enjoyed the most stable period of his career, making more than 160 appearances for the Catalan side before losing his place in recent seasons. From a technical point of view, Lenglet has traits that fit Marco Silva’s style of play. Left-footed, he stands out for his quality in playing out from the back, his ability to build from deep, and his tactical awareness.

On the other hand, the Frenchman shows some limitations in aerial play, in the aggression of individual duels and in pace, aspects that may require an adaptation to Portuguese football. Even so, the experience he has built up at the highest level makes him a strong signing to take on an important role in the Eagles’ defensive core in the 2026/27 season.

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