Official! Rui Costa announces exit 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 onwards, will be free to continue their careers in other projects.

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

Meanwhile, Carolina Ferreira and Daniela Areia Santos came through the Benfica academy, with both having been loaned to Valadares Gaia in 2025/26 as part of a development spell 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 an important contribution to Benfica’s domestic triumphs before being held back by prolonged fitness 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 successful season collectively. The midfielder made 13 appearances 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.