Seven of Europe’s biggest clubs are tracking the same 18-year-old. According to a report published by The Hard Tackle on 16 October, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus, AS Roma, Atlético Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are all monitoring Daniel Banjaqui, Benfica’s rising right-back.

No club has opened concrete talks. Benfica’s reluctance to sell is the main obstacle.

Banjaqui was born in Lisbon on 24 March 2008 and is of Guinea-Bissau descent. He joined Benfica’s academy in 2018 from Real Formação as a nine-year-old, and has moved through every age group at the club.

The breakthrough came last winter. On 17 December 2025, José Mourinho, then Benfica head coach, sent him on in the 88th minute of a Portuguese Cup tie against Farense. His Primeira Liga debut followed on 25 January 2026, with an assist for fellow debutant Anísio Cabral in a 4-0 win over Estrela da Amadora.

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U17 world and European champion in 2025

The timing was not coincidental. Over the summer of 2025, Banjaqui had been part of the Portugal squads that won both the UEFA U17 European Championship in Albania and the FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar.

Benfica moved to protect the asset. On 2 April 2026, the club confirmed a new contract until 2031.

“I’m very happy to be renewing my contract with my heart club and that they’re putting their trust in me,” Banjaqui said in the club statement.

Nuno Mendes comparisons and a Frimpong profile

He is a right-footed right-back who plays with the aggression of an attacking full-back, compared to Nuno Mendes in scouting profiles despite the opposite-footed difference. He stands around 1.84m, strong in the duel and quick in recovery, and the end product in the final third is what has pushed him onto so many recruitment lists.

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Rodrigo Magalhães, who runs Benfica’s youth development, told Record earlier this year that the teenager had “made the most of every opportunity he was given”.

Benfica, coached by Marco Silva since June 2026, are under no obligation to deal. Portuguese reporting around April’s renewal pointed to a high release clause written into the new deal, and none of the interested clubs has so far been willing to test it.

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