Official! Defender leaves Benfica for Liga Portugal's fourth-placed side | OneFootball

It is official. Joana Silva will play for Valadares Gaia. The team that finished fourth in the league announced the permanent signing of the Portuguese defender, who had already played for the side in the second half of last season on loan from Benfica.

After making six appearances for Valadares in 2025/26, the centre-back convinced the club’s hierarchy, which has now moved to acquire the player’s registration rights, securing her stay for the coming seasons.

Developed at Benfica, Joana Silva arrived at Luz in the 2020/21 season and progressed through several levels of the club’s women’s setup. After representing the youth teams and the B team, she made her debut for the first team in 2021/22. In the 2024/25 season, the defender made 18 appearances and scored three goals for the Eagles. In 2025/26, she also featured in two matches and scored once before joining Valadares Gaia on loan in January.

After being confirmed on a permanent deal by the northern club, Joana Silva did not hide her satisfaction at continuing in Gaia: "It is a source of pride to continue representing Valadares, and I am ready for what lies ahead", the player told the club’s official media.

It should be remembered that Benfica officially announced the defender’s departure on June 12, after reaching an agreement to terminate the contract binding both parties. In a statement published by the Eagles, the club highlighted Joana Silva’s journey and the various titles she won while wearing the Benfica shirt, including four Liga BPI titles, one Portuguese Cup, one League Cup, one National Second Division Championship with the B team, and one Under-19 League title.

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