The transfer saga surrounding Joao Palhinha is over. The Portuguese player will leave FC Bayern after just two years and join Benfica Lisbon. The transfer is expected to be finalized before Saturday’s Super Cup match against Borussia Dortmund.
As transfer expert Fabrizio Romano now reports, Bayern Munich and Benfica Lisbon have reached an agreement on a transfer for Palhinha. According to the report, the Portuguese record champions will initially pay 14 million euros for the midfielder.
Up to 5 million euros in bonus payments could be added. The relevant documents are expected to be sent to Benfica President Rui Costa within the next 24 hours—provided Palhinha gives his final approval.
Palhinha Ready to Return to Portugal
According to information from Record Portugal , Palhinha is now reportedly ready to return to Portugal following the collapse of his move to Aston Villa.
Palhinha came up through the youth system at Sporting Lisbon, from where he eventually moved to England to play for Fulham FC before transferring to Bayern Munich in 2024 for approximately 51 million euros.
In Munich, however, the defensive midfielder was never able to consistently live up to the high expectations.
Bayern Takes a Loss
On the field, Palhinha had not played a central role in recent times. Under Vincent Kompany, the Portuguese player was unable to establish himself ahead of Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic. At the same time, his comparatively high salary was a burden on roster planning.
For FC Bayern, the upcoming transfer therefore represents a significant financial loss. Even if all bonus payments are triggered, the transfer fee will remain well below the amount the Munich club invested in Palhinha two years ago.
The sale, however, creates important financial and roster flexibility. Bayern can save on the Portuguese player’s high salary while also freeing up a spot on the roster.