Chelsea and Liverpool Ready £30m Move for Benfica Defender Daniel Banjaqui

Chelsea and Liverpool ready to move for £30m Benfica right-back Daniel Banjaqui

Chelsea and Liverpool are closely monitoring Benfica right-back Daniel Banjaqui, with reports suggesting a deal could be discussed from around £30m-£33m. The 18-year-old is under contract until 2031 and has a release clause close to £45m.

Player: Daniel Banjaqui, 18-year-old right-back born in Lisbon in 2008
Clubs interested: Chelsea and Liverpool are especially active, with Tottenham, Brighton, Man Utd, Newcastle and Arsenal also credited
Fee range: A deal could potentially be discussed from €35m-€40m / £30m-£33m
Release clause: Close to £45m following a new contract signed earlier this year
Contract: Remains at Benfica until 2031
Stage: Formal talks have not yet started; the race remains in the very early stages

Deal details

Banjaqui remains under contract at Benfica until 2031, giving the Portuguese club clear control over any negotiation. His release clause is understood to be close to £45m after he signed a new deal earlier this year.

Despite that protection, sources suggest a deal could potentially be discussed from around €35m-€40m / £30m-£33m. Benfica’s preference, however, is to keep the player and continue his development, especially given that first-team minutes remain limited and a long-term contract is in place.

The interest is not confined to England. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are watching developments in Germany, while Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan are among the Italian clubs linked. In Spain, Atletico Madrid, Real Sociedad and Barcelona are also mentioned.

Why Chelsea are in the race

Chelsea’s interest is sharpened by fitness concerns surrounding Reece James, according to the report. The club’s wider recruitment strategy remains geared towards signing elite young talent before prices climb further, and Banjaqui appears to fit that model neatly.

He is described as a modern full-back with athleticism, defensive reliability and attacking upside. Those qualities, allied to early senior exposure at Benfica, have elevated his standing significantly over the past year.

Banjaqui was born in Lisbon in 2008 and has been described as one of the most exciting young defensive prospects in the game. His development gathered real pace over the past year, helped by his role in Portugal youth sides that won both the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

Analysis: Why Banjaqui fits Chelsea’s long-term plan

This feels exactly like the sort of move Chelsea have been building towards for several windows: young, high-upside, expensive enough to signal serious belief, but still early enough in the player’s journey to imagine major growth. The profile makes sense straight away. A right-back with elite athletic tools, tournament pedigree and Benfica schooling will always attract serious clubs.

The immediate reaction is to focus on Reece James, and that is fair. When he is fit, he changes the level of the side. The problem has been availability, not quality. So if Chelsea are revisiting that area with real conviction, it suggests the club are planning for every scenario rather than simply hoping the issue disappears.

Daniel Banjaqui sounds like a long-term play rather than an instant starter, and that may actually suit the squad. He could arrive, learn, compete and develop without the burden of being expected to carry the role from day one. If the reported range of £30m to £33m is accurate, that is a major outlay for potential, but that is the market for elite teenage talent now.

The only caution is the size of the queue. When Liverpool, Barcelona and Inter Milan are all circling, the deal can become complicated very quickly. Chelsea will need clarity, conviction and a pathway to sell. If they truly believe he is top tier, this is the stage to move decisively.

Talking points

Is £30m-£33m too much for an 18-year-old with limited first-team minutes at Benfica, or is it simply the going rate for elite teenage talent?
Chelsea’s interest is understandable given Reece James’s fitness record, but would Banjaqui actually get enough game time to develop at Stamford Bridge?
With Liverpool, Barcelona, Inter and others circling, can Chelsea afford to wait, or must they move decisively now before the price climbs?
Benfica’s preference to keep Banjaqui until 2031 could force suitors to pay closer to the £45m release clause. Is he worth that?

What happens next

No formal talks have started, and the race remains in the very early stages. Chelsea and Liverpool are expected to continue monitoring Banjaqui’s situation at Benfica, where first-team minutes are still limited. The decisive moment will come if the Portuguese club signal a willingness to negotiate below the £45m release clause. Until then, the queue of interested clubs is likely to grow.

Frequently asked questions

How much would Daniel Banjaqui cost Chelsea or Liverpool?

Sources suggest a deal could potentially be discussed from around €35m-€40m / £30m-£33m, although his release clause is close to £45m.

Is Daniel Banjaqui leaving Benfica this summer?

Benfica’s preference is to keep the player and continue his development, and with a contract until 2031 and limited first-team minutes, any move is far from straightforward.

Which clubs are interested in Daniel Banjaqui?

Chelsea and Liverpool are especially active, while Tottenham, Brighton, Manchester United, Newcastle and Arsenal are also credited with interest, along with clubs in Germany, Italy and Spain.