Official! Rafa leaves Benfica for good | OneFootball

Rafa Rodrigues is no longer a Benfica player. The Portuguese left-back has been officially announced as a new signing for Al Ain, bringing his connection with the Eagles to an end. The 24-year-old defender has signed a contract with the UAE club until 2030.

According to Record, Benfica will receive €2.5 million from the transfer, corresponding to the sale of 60% of the player’s economic rights. Rafa Rodrigues had been on loan at Al Ain and convinced the club’s officials to move forward with a permanent deal.

Developed at Seixal, the full-back was part of the generation that won the Youth League in 2021/22, in a memorable campaign capped by a 6-0 thrashing of Salzburg in the competition’s final. During the 2024/25 season, the defender also spent time at AVS SAD, continuing his path away from Benfica’s first team.

According to the same source, this is another deal that allows Benfica to bring in funds from academy-produced players. Benfica SAD remains focused on increasing the value of its assets, seeking to generate revenue without compromising the core structure of the squad.

Rafa Rodrigues’ departure comes at a time when Gonçalo Oliveira is also packing his bags to leave the Luz. The B team captain is set to join Rennes for around €3.5 million, in a deal that includes a buy-back clause, allowing Benfica to retain some control over the young centre-back’s future.

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