Official! 22-year-old leaves Benfica for Porto on a free | OneFootball

It’s official. Daniela Areia Santos has left Benfica women’s football team and has been announced as a new signing for Porto. The 22-year-old centre-back was unveiled this Wednesday as a new addition to the blue-and-white side for the 2026/27 season.

After spending last season on loan at Valadares Gaia, the Portugal international says goodbye to the Club of Light, where she completed much of her development and won the first titles of her career. At their rivals, the player will wear the number 30 shirt and join the squad coached by Daniel Chaves.

While playing for the Eagles, the centre-back built up a trophy-laden record, winning two National Championships, one Portuguese Cup, one Super Cup, one League Cup, as well as the women’s Second Division and the National Under-19 Championship.

Despite that journey, she ultimately failed to establish herself consistently in the first team, leading to her loan move to Valadares Gaia last season. It was precisely while playing for the Gaia-based side that she enjoyed one of the best seasons of her career, taking on a leading role in a team that finished fourth in Liga BPI.

Her performances convinced the Dragons to move for her on a permanent deal. The switch is marked by an unprecedented fact in national women’s football, as Daniela Areia Santos becomes the first player to leave Benfica directly to represent Porto.

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