Lisbon centre-back Tomás Araújo has signed a contract extension with Portuguese club Benfica through June 2031.
The 24-year-old defender, who secured a regular starting spot and became one of Benfica's team captains this season, has had his annual salary increased to approximately two million euros net of tax. According to reporting by Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manhã, his release clause is set to remain at 80 million euros under the new agreement, which extends his previous deal that was scheduled to run until June 2029.
Reflections on progress and season ambitions
Speaking to Benfica's official television channel BTV following the announcement, Araújo expressed great happiness with the agreement, describing the extension as a dream and another personal milestone achieved. He recalled crying frequently during the early stages of his journey after arriving at the club in 2016, noting that he now feels much more mature after gaining extensive experience in the first team.
Araújo emphasized that he still has major objectives to accomplish with the club, pointing specifically to the Portuguese league championship, a trophy he has yet to win but hopes to secure this season. He added that the squad is building something special this year with strong internal belief, remarking that the support of Benfica fans will help make their objectives easier to reach, and stated his desire to leave a lasting mark in the club's history.
Player background and international statistics
Since making his senior debut for Benfica, the Portuguese defender has recorded four goals and seven assists across 113 appearances for the main team, helping the club win a League Cup title. Alongside Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni, Araújo forms part of Benfica's registered squad reinforcements for European competition in the UEFA Champions League.
At international level, Araújo has earned six caps for the Portugal national team and featured at the 2026 World Cup. During the tournament, he was reintegrated into recovery training following Portugal's dominant victory, although he subsequently missed a fixture against Uzbekistan.
Motion to withdraw confidence from Pedro Proença
In a separate development surrounding the club, lawyer Nuno Lobo has proposed that Benfica members vote to withdraw confidence from Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proença during an upcoming General Assembly. Lobo, who lost the 2025 presidential election for the governing body, brought forward the motion following leaked audio recordings that featured Proença discussing refereeing matters with Benfica executives.
According to information disclosed by sports communications agency Sports Tailors, Lobo intends for the voting motion to be tabled during Benfica's annual General Assembly for financial account approval, which is scheduled to take place between late September and early October 2026. Proença, a former international referee, has led the Portuguese Football Federation since taking office following past elections.
