Standout signing is Tottenham Hotspur’s Jan Vertongen who made 232 appearances for the north London team over an eight year spell. The 33 year-old central defender has also racked up 118 games for Belgium and made his international debut against Portugal in 2007.

Also joining the Eagles are SC Freiburg striker Gian-Luca Waldschmidt and Grêmio (Brazil) star Everton Cebolinha.

Benfica had been in negotiations with the trio for a number of weeks and they now headline a list of signings under Jorge Jesus that totals six new faces, following the capture of Pedrinho, Gilberto and Helton Leite.

Everton Cebolinha, alongside the €20 million already spent on Corinthians’ Pedrinho, represents Benfica’s most expensive purchase after joining from Grêmio on a five-year-contract to enrich Jesus’ Brazilian contingent. The tricky winger caught the eye in 2019, when he had attracted interest from the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and namesake club Everton. Not only does Everton boast the tag of being Jesus’ first priority signing but he also claims Benfica’s biggest-ever agreed release clause, set at €150 million in a bid to keep Europe’s elite initially at bay.

24-year-old Gian-Luca Waldschmidt’s record last season was far more humble with seven goals and three assists in twenty-three Bundesliga games, but that has not deterred Benfica from forking out €15 million on the former Eintracht Frankfurt youngster. CW