Chelsea
Benfica are viewing Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo as a candidate to bolster their defence. The Portuguese side’s current coach Marco Silva really wants the centre back. He has previously worked with Adarabioyo at Fulham and so he knows him well. Benfica are looking for a loan move for the Chelsea player.
Benfica’s Marco Silva wants Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea
As reported by Sport Witness, Saturday’s edition of Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha has published that Benfica wants Tosin Adarabioyo as their new defender. The interest is more from manager Marco Silva than the Portuguese club. The former Fulham manager wants his current club to push for the signing of the Chelsea centre back.
Adarabioyo would be a suitable pick for Marco Silva at Benfica having worked with him previously. The 28-year-old had played under Silva at Fulham for three seasons. He knows his former defender’s strengths very well. From 2021 to 2024, the English defender had played 98 games for the Premier League side. In 2024, he signed for Chelsea as a free agent. Although he has 70 appearances for the Blues in these two seasons, he is not the preferred centre back at Stamford Bridge.
After becoming an outcast at Chelsea, Tosin Adarabioyo would want to revive his career. Marco Silva’s Benfica would be able to give him that platform. The Englishman will get regular minutes alongside European football as he will play under a manager who knows him and likes him as well.
Key Statistic:
Tosin Adarabioyo’s stats for Chelsea in 2025-26 season, according to FOTMOB:
Competitions Appearances Tackles Interceptions Clearances
Premier League 16 17 9 66
FA Cup 5 3 4 37
EFL Cup 3 4 3 14
UEFA Champions League 5 5 4 7
FIFA Club World Cup 4 4 3 15
Why are Benfica keen to sign Adarabioyo ?
Benfica are showing very much urgency to bring a new defender to fill up the gap in the backline. They are trying to get a direct replacement for young centre back Antonio Silva. The young Portuguese has joined Bournemouth this month for €25m, according to Transfermarkt after playing for four years for the Liga Portugal club. The club management knew that he would be going elsewhere. And as a result Benfica were in search of other options. But before they could make moves, their defensive targets secured their future elsewhere.
One of their targets was Ibrahima Ba who at that time was playing for Famalicao. They had desired to bring the Senegalese defender. But their rivals, Sporting Lisbon quickly acted on that situation and signed him for €21.3m. Then the Portuguese side turned their attention towards Issa Diop. Marco Silva had experience of working with Diop at Fulham. But he joined Ipswich Town in this window. After all the doors got closed, Benfica have identified Tosin Adarabioyo as the primary target.
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Benfica wants Adarabioyo on loan
Adarabioyo not only fits in Benfica’s tactical profile but also in their financial profile. A loan deal for the Chelsea player would be ideal for the Portuguese side. Additionally, Benfica does not want to invest a large sum in another central defender.
Benfica would present a deal where they would take Adarabioyo on loan for this season with an option to buy in the agreement. This will be beneficial for both the clubs. Chelsea will get a way to move him and Benfica will not have to pay a fee soon. Marco Silva will be in the driving seat to progress the deal. But as of now it is not clear whether the Blues want to loan him out or they will start negotiations in the near future.
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