Portugal midfielder João Palhinha has completed a permanent 14 million euro transfer from Bayern Munich to Benfica, signing a contract through to June 2030.
Speaking to official club channel BTV on Wednesday, the 31-year-old confirmed he had received several offers from other teams but chose to return to Portugal because of his family and manager Marco Silva.
Palhinha explained that family considerations and the strength of Benfica's internal structure convinced him to head back to his homeland. He noted that although returning home was not in his plans a few months ago, his family, children and the setup at the club persuaded him to reconsider.
The midfielder highlighted the role of Marco Silva, who previously coached him during his time in England. Palhinha said that Silva knew him very well after bringing out his best performances at Fulham, adding that the manager pushed hard for his signature and played a significant role in his decision.
Family influence and reunion with Marco Silva
Palhinha said that everything was in place to win silverware at Benfica and expressed his desire to repay the effort the Portuguese club made to secure his signature.
He acknowledged the high expectations that come with wearing the Benfica shirt, describing himself as one more player ready to help and give everything for the team. Palhinha added that the entire club structure and fanbase were eager to win titles, and stated his goal to keep Benfica soaring throughout the season while celebrating trophy victories.
The move marks Palhinha's return to Portuguese football four years after he left Sporting CP to join English Premier League side Fulham in a 25 million euro transfer.
Stint in Germany and Tottenham loan spell
Palhinha had two years remaining on his contract with Bayern Munich, but it was public knowledge that he was no longer part of the German club's plans.
Bayern Munich originally purchased the defensive midfielder from Fulham in 2024 for 51 million euros. However, Palhinha struggled for regular game time during his first season in Bavaria, starting only 10 matches across all competitions.
He regained match sharpness and competitive regularity during the 2025/26 season on loan at English side Tottenham Hotspur, where he made 45 appearances and scored seven goals.
Domestic trophies and international career
Before his spell abroad, Palhinha developed through the youth ranks at Alta de Lisboa and Sacavenense before moving to Sporting CP as a junior player.
Following loan spells at Moreirense and Belenenses, he featured occasionally for Sporting's senior team before spending two successful seasons on loan at Sporting de Braga in 2018/19 and 2019/20. Those performances established him as a regular starter upon his return to Sporting CP.
During his time with Sporting CP, Palhinha won the Portuguese league title in the 2020/21 season, two League Cups in 2020/21 and 2021/22, and the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup in 2021.
In 2022, Palhinha departed Lisbon for Fulham, becoming a key figure under Marco Silva. He played 79 matches over two seasons for the West London club, making 75 starts with the majority coming in the Premier League.
On the international stage, Palhinha has represented Portugal at major tournaments including Euro 2020, Euro 2024, and the 2022 World Cup. He was also part of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League title in 2025.
Benfica summer transfer activity
Palhinha becomes Benfica's sixth signing ahead of the 2026/27 campaign as the club rebuilds its squad under Marco Silva.
His arrival follows five previous summer acquisitions by the Portuguese side: defender Clément Lenglet, forward Gabriel Índio, winger Jakub Kaminski, striker Jhon Durán, and defender Alessandro Circati.
