Official! Rui Costa announces departure of 5 players at once | OneFootball

It’s official. Benfica, six-time national women’s champions, announced on Wednesday morning the departure of five players from the first team. In a statement, the club said that Letícia Almeida, Marta Salvador, Zoe Matthews, Daniela Areia Santos and Carolina Ferreira are out of contract and, from 1 July, will be free to continue their careers with other projects.

Letícia Almeida, Marta Salvador and American Zoe Matthews were part of the first team throughout the season, although with limited playing time. In fact, the latter two did not play a single minute of official competition for the Eagles this season.

Carolina Ferreira and Daniela Areia Santos, meanwhile, are products of Benfica’s academy, and both were on loan at Valadares Gaia in 2025/26, during a period of development away from the club. These players join the already confirmed departures of Andrea Falcón and Carissa Boeckmann, who are also leaving the Lisbon club.

Andrea Falcón, 29, arrived at the Luz after winning the Champions League with Barcelona and made an immediate impact in her first season. In 34 matches, she recorded nine goals and eight assists, making a significant contribution to Benfica’s domestic triumphs before being held back by prolonged physical problems.

Carissa Boeckmann, meanwhile, the 22-year-old American international, leaves the club after just one season. It was her first experience outside the United States, and she was part of a squad that enjoyed a highly successful campaign. The midfielder played 13 matches and scored two goals, helping Benfica win the Liga BPI and the Women’s Portuguese Cup.

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