Official! Rui Costa lets Benfica striker leave on a free | OneFootball

It’s official: Henrique Araújo is no longer a Benfica player. Benfica and Casa Pia have confirmed an agreement for the permanent transfer of the Portuguese forward, who leaves the club from Luz after seven years of association. In the deal, the Eagles safeguarded 50% of a future sale, as well as a buy-back clause.

At 24, the striker is preparing for a new chapter in his career, signing a contract until June 2029. Henrique Araújo joined Benfica in 2018 from Marítimo and quickly stood out as one of the most promising forwards in Benfica’s academy.

The Portugal under-21 international’s journey was marked by the many goals he scored in the youth ranks, progressing through the under-19s, under-23s and B team before reaching the first team. His senior debut came in the 2021/22 League Cup final, while his first goal arrived a few weeks later against Vizela. On the final matchday of that league campaign, he scored twice again against Paços de Ferreira.

One of the most memorable moments of Henrique Araújo’s time at Benfica came in the 2021/22 season, when he was one of the standout figures in the club’s UEFA Youth League triumph. In the final, played in Nyon, the forward scored a hat-trick in the 6-0 thrashing of Salzburg, writing his name into the history of Benfica’s academy.

The following season, he still had the chance to shine in the first team, scoring in the Champions League against Midtjylland and Maccabi Haifa. In January 2023, he moved on loan to Watford in England, where he made eight appearances, later returning to Portugal to represent Famalicão and Arouca.

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