Thank you, João Neves!

THANK YOU, JOAO NEVES!

João Neves is ending a cycle at Sport Lisboa e Benfica, which began in 2012 and is moving on to a new stage in his career in France. After making his official debut for the first team on December 30, 2022, under Roger Schmidt, the midfielder made in Benfica Campus has made a name for himself at the Glorioso: he played in 75 official matches and helped the club win a National Championship and a Super Cup.

João Neves took his first steps in football at the Casa Benfica Tavira, in 2012, beginning his connection with the Club. He strengthened it when he joined the Benfica Training Center in Faro (Algarve), where he stayed for four seasons, and from there he moved to the Benfica Campus in 2016/17.

Throughout his time at the club, João Neves has played for teams at all levels, and at the age of 17, he made his debut for the Under-23s in 2021/22. That same season, he was part of the group of players who made history by winning the UEFA Youth League, Benfica's first trophy in that competition.

Later, João Neves also contributed, as a full-time starter, to Benfica's success in the final of the U-20 Intercontinental Cup (0-1) against Peñarol in Montevideo on August 21, 2022. The central midfielder's debut for the B team came on August 6, 2022, on matchday 1 of Liga 2, against Académico de Viseu.

DEBUT AND RISE 

The young midfielder's meteoric rise led to him playing for Benfica's first team in a friendly against Sevilla on December 11, 2022, brought on in the 77th minute by Roger Schmidt. Officially, João Neves played his first minutes for the first team in Braga, on matchday 14 of the 2022/23 National Championship, on the 30th of the same month, coming on at the 89th minute.

That season he played in 19 more games - 16 in the league and three in the Champions League - and scored his first goal on the penultimate matchday, in the away derby against Sporting, on the way to winning the 38th national championship in the Glorioso's history, which would be achieved in the following round at the Estádio da Luz. His Champions League debut came on February 15, 2023, against Club Brugge in the first leg of the competition's round of 16.

YEAR OF CONSOLIDATION

In the 2023/24 season, João Neves made 55 official appearances for Benfica, in six competitions (League, Champions League, Europa League, Portuguese Cup, League Cup, and Super Cup), scoring three goals against Sporting, Gil Vicente, and Chaves.

The successful process also included his arrival in the national team, for which he debuted on October 16, 2023, against Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was the first international appearance for the Eagles' number 87, a player who, in May 2024, would be included in Portugal's final squad for the European Championship.

CHAMPION

During his time as a member of Benfica's first football team, the young talent contributed to winning a National Championship and a Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup and played in 75 official matches - 50 in the National Championship (four goals), nine in the Champions League, six in the Europa League, six in the Portuguese Cup, three in the League Cup and one in the Super.

The midfielder nurtured at Benfica Campus now faces a new stage in his professional career with Paris Saint-Germain.

Thank you, João Neves!