From Lisbon’s Estádio da Luz to the ears of fervent fans across Portugal and beyond, one question echoes through the corridors of Benfica: who should Benfica sell this summer to balance ambition, finances, and squad harmony? With José Mourinho now at the helm, big choices lie ahead. In this article, QuraGoal will peel back the layers, exploring which players Benfica might move on, which sales make sense, and how the Eagles can navigate the tightrope between retaining strength and generating revenue.
Benfica’s Financial & Sporting Reality
Benfica is no stranger to the transfer treadmill. Over recent years, it has built a reputation as a club that develops or scouts promising talent and then sells at high profit. This cycle fuels reinvestment into youth, infrastructure, and competitive upgrades. But each sale also risks weakening depth or upsetting the balance.
In 2025, Benfica already made moves on the outgoing side: Turkish winger Kerem Aktürkoğlu has been sold to Fenerbahçe for around €22.5 million plus add-ons. Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured the signing of left-back Álvaro Carreras, reportedly for €50 million. These sales free up budget and roster spots — but also remove quality.
The key is alignment: sales should support the tactical and long-term project under Mourinho without creating glaring weakness.
Criteria for Who to Sell
Before diving into names, it’s essential to define the criteria by which Benfica should decide to sell:
- High Market Value / Buyout Potential – Players whose value is high and likely to draw interest abroadSquad Redundancy* – Positions where Benfica have depth or overlap.
- Wage vs. Contribution – Players whose salary may not justify their on-pitch impact.
- Contract Situation – Expiring contracts or players unwilling to renew.
- Development Return – Younger talents whose sale makes sense if they struggle for minutes.
Using those principles, let’s examine the names that could be justified — and one or two that might be mistakes to let go.
Names Benfica Could Sell
1. Vangelis Pavlidis
Benfica invested heavily in Pavlidis (around €18 million + add-ons) when signing him in 2024. He’s proven to have scoring ability, but with new attacking options and evolving tactics, Benfica might extract a strong profit now before his value peaks further. If a big club comes calling, he’s a logical departure.
2. Andreas Schjelderup
Still young and with potential, Schjelderup might fetch a decent fee — particularly. Selling Schjelderup could free up space for more immediately consistent attacking options.
3. Fredrik Aursnes
Though he brings experience and reliability, Aursnes is already in his late twenties. If Benfica can replace his role with younger, chea, letting him move could reduce salary commitment and reallocate resources to long-term projects.
4. Henrique Araújo
Araújo has shown flashes but has struggled to find consistent form or starts amid competition. The risk of keeping a player on the bench long term is that his market value stagnates. A mid-tier club might offer a good package now while Benfica redirect resources.
5. Dodi Lukébakio
As, Lukébakio is already being floated in Benfica’s sale list. He has experience and name value, but he hasn’t fully delivered in Lisbon. Given his age, letting him depart may be acceptable.
6. Contract or fringe cases
Players like Hugo Félix (Benfica reportedly wanted to move him on) are more marginal and might be moved off the books to clean up the roster and wage sheet.com])
Names Benfica Should Avoid Selling
While pruning is necessary, certain players should remain sacrosanct for stability and growth:
1. António Silva / Tomás Araújo
These central defenders are core to Benfica’s future. Losing them would risk defensive identity and continuity. Their youth, quality, and contract security make them pillars rather than sale candidates.
2. Enzo Barrenechea / Leandro Barreiro
In the midfield engine room, experience plus dynamism are essential. Selling too many key midfielders could leave the squad light in transition and control.
3. Gianluca Prestianni
Young, with upside, and likely affordable, Prestianni is better held onto as a project. Moving him too early might be short-sighted — unless a massive offer forces the club’s hand.
Balanced Sale Strategy
To maximize benefit, here’s how Benfica could structure the sales:
- Prioritize big offers first: If Pavlidis or Schjelderup generate serious offers, move them while preserving squad balance.
- Stagger departures: Don’t remove multiple starters.
- Reinvest wisely: Use funds to plug holes, upgrade weak areas, and invest in youth.
- Retain core backbone: Keep defense and midfield anchors intact while trimming rotation players.
A possible scenario: sell Pavlidis and Lukébakio, release or loan fringe players, and retain Silva, Araújo, Barrenechea, and Schjelderup — at least until new signings arrive.
Risks & Fan Reaction
Every sale invites criticism. Letting Pavlidis go would anger fans who see him as a key attacking piece. Offloading youth like Schjelderup could signal a lack of trust in development. Moreover, failing to replace exits effectively can lead to regression in European competition. The psychological impact on the squad must be managed carefully.
Conclusion
Who should Benfica sell? The best answers lie in balance. Benfica should be open to selling Vangelis Pavlidis, Andreas Schjelderup, Fredrik Aursnes, and Henrique Araújo under the right terms — while safeguarding the foundational pieces of defense and midfield. This way, Benfica can navigate a path that funds ambition without losing identity.
Now, it’s your turn as a football fan: which sale would hurt the most — or make the most sense? QuraGoal invites you to share your view and follow along as the transfer window unfolds.
