Official! Benfica tie down their captain until 2031 after rejecting giants

Benfica have won one of the most important battles of their window without selling anyone: captain Tomás Araújo is staying until 2031.

Details: The 24 year old centre-back has officially extended his contract with the Eagles until June 2031, with a significant salary increase. The renewal comes after Benfica rejected approaches from leading La Liga and Premier League clubs during the summer.

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Araújo is pure Benfica: in the academy since 2016, a loan at Gil Vicente to grow up, then a first-team pillar who has already lifted the league title and worn the armband this season under Marco Silva. His previous deal ran to 2029 with an €80 million release clause, and Chelsea were among those who circled without ever coming close to triggering it, while Real Madrid were linked too. Transfermarkt now values him at €30 million after a season of 19 league appearances, and he added a World Cup appearance for Portugal this summer. In a window where the Eagles loaned Richard Ríos to Al Ittihad and brought in Claudio Echeverri, keeping their defensive leader off the market may prove the shrewdest business of all.

It's worth noting that Araújo ranks in the 97th percentile among centre-backs for progressive passes completed, the modern profile that made Europe's giants take notice in the first place.

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