Three contract renewals!

Central defender Adrian Bajrami (2026), left-back Rafael Rodrigues (2027), and winger/forward Henrique Pereira (2027) renewed their contract with Sport Lisboa e Benfica.

In his sixth season officially competing for the club, Albanian international central defender Adrian Bajrami has been signed by Swiss club BSC Young Boys for 2018/19.

Winner of the U-17 National Championship in 2018/19 and the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup in 2022, the 21-year-old (06/04/2002) is currently Benfica B's most used player in Liga 2.

In the current 2023/24 season, Adrian Bajrami has made 20 appearances - and scored one goal - in Liga 2 and three appearances in the Premier League International Cup. Last season, in 2022/23, he made 23 appearances and scored two goals for Benfica B and played in the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.

For Adrian Bajrami, the moment is one of great satisfaction. "I'm very proud and happy about my renewal. I hope I can continue to work hard and represent Benfica in the best possible way," he told BTV.

Rafael Vela Rodrigues, a 22-year-old left-back (27/01/2002), has represented the club for 14 seasons, having started his career at the Aveiro Training Center, joining the Benfica Campus in 2014/15.

U-15 National Champion (2016/17), U-17 National Champion, winner of the UEFA Youth League and of the Intercontinental U-20 Cup in 2022, where he captained the team, Rafael Rodrigues has made 66 appearances in Liga 2. This season, 2023/24, he made 19 appearances - and scored one goal - in the Segunda Liga, and also took part in a match in the Premier League International Cup.

As one of the captains of the B team, the left-back made 31 appearances in Liga 2 and the Intercontinental Cup last season, in 2022/23. He has been capped by Portugal's youth national team on 31 occasions, from the Under-16s to the Under-21s, so far.

The renewal of his contract with Benfica until 2027 is seen by Rafael Rodrigues as "another demonstration" of the club's belief in his value. "It's very important for me, it's another demonstration that the club believes in me and in my ability. I just have to be able to show what I've been showing over the years", he emphasized. 

Henrique Martins Pereira, Henrique Martins Pereira, a 22-year-old winger/forward (15/02/2002), has also officially competed for the club for 14 seasons, covering all the youth levels since he started at Benfica Football Schools and has never represented another club.

With an eagle on his chest, he won the U-15 National Championship (2016/17), the U-17 National Championship (2018/19) and the U-20 Intercontinental Cup in 2022.

Henrique Pereira is the player in the current Benfica B squad with the most Liga 2 appearances, 71. In the 2023/24 season he has 16 appearances, 14 - and one goal - in Liga 2 and two games in the Premier League International Cup.

An international for Portugal's youth teams on 44 occasions - in which he scored nine goals between the Under-15s and Under-20s - Henrique Pereira, in 2022/23, made 34 appearances and scored nine goals for Benfica B in League 2.

The athlete expressed his happiness at signing a new contract until 2027, and said it was the result of continuous work over the years. "The happiness I'm feeling is very great, for me, it represents a lot of the club's recognition of the work I've done. Not just recently, but for as long as I've been at Benfica. So, for me, it's a great joy and a great source of pride to represent Benfica for more years to come, he said.