Bayern Munich agree deal with Benfica for departure of Joao Palhinha
Bayern Munich are focusing on departures in the final few days of the summer transfer window. The Bavarian club completed their business in July by signing three players to strengthen Vincent Kompany’s squad for next season. Bayern are looking to move the fringe players on permanent transfers to balance the books.
It does look like the first key departure will be Joao Palhinha. According to Record in Portugal and Fabrizio Romano, Bayern have agreed a fee with Benfica for the transfer of Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder has already agreed personal terms with Benfica, so formal steps are set to follow to complete the transfer.
Bayern will receive a fixed fee of €14 million for the Portuguese midfielder alongside €5 million in bonuses. Die Roten have been pushing for a permanent departure for Palhinha. They wanted a fee of €30 million, but it does look like they have softened their stance regarding the transfer fee.
Palhinha was left out of the squad for Tuesday's friendly against Heidenheim due to transfer negotiations. Benfica stepped up their pursuit of Palhinha after Aston Villa failed to agree a deal with Bayern. The Premier League side wanted to sign Palhinha on a loan deal with an option to buy.
A move to Benfica will ensure Palhinha reunites with Marco Silva. The Portuguese manager worked with Palhinha at Fulham. The 30-year-old midfielder excelled under Silva, so this move makes perfect sense for him.
Palhinha will go down as one of the strange signings for Bayern
Bayern first tried signing Palhinha in 2023, but the move collapsed in the final hours of the deadline day. The record Bundesliga champions came back for him in 2024 and paid a fee of €51 million to Fulham for his signature.
Despite being a big-money acquisition in midfield, Palhinha struggled to get regular game time under Vincent Kompany. He worked hard in training, but other midfielders were ahead of him in the pecking order.
Palhinha left Bayern on loan to join Tottenham Hotspur in 2025. He had a good spell with Spurs, but the Premier League side didn’t activate the option to sign him permanently for €30 million.
The 30-year-old midfielder made only 25 appearances for Bayern across all competitions. Considering the hefty fee Die Roten paid, Palhinha will go down as one of the most disappointing transfers in the last decade. A move away from Bavaria suits all parties as Palhinha looks to rediscover his best form which earned him a move to Munich.
