Official! Benfica loan out 19-year-old to fourth-placed side | OneFootball

Benfica announced that footballer Joana Valente will be loaned to Valadares Gaia until the end of the season. The young midfielder will therefore represent one of the Liga BPI’s benchmark teams, while also reuniting with Maria Cruz, finding a competitive environment that could be important for her growth and development in the sport.

The move comes as an opportunity for Joana Valente to gain experience and playing time in a more demanding competitive environment, with the aim of continuing to develop and, in the future, earning a place in Benfica’s first team.

This remains, moreover, one of the young footballer’s main goals, as she has already publicly stated her ambition to reach the Eagles’ senior squad: "That is the main goal. I’m looking at the short term because I hope it happens as quickly as possible. Everything in its own time. I’m working towards that."

It is worth remembering that in June 2025 Joana Valente signed her professional contract with Benfica, valid until 2027. The player is among those called up by Marisa Gomes for the Under-20 World Cup, which takes place in September.

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