By Benson Daniel
Benfica midfielder Richard Ríos is set to join Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad on a season long loan after the two clubs reached an agreement on deadline day.
The agreement will see the Colombian international spend the 2026/27 season in Saudi Arabia, with the loan deal not including an option for Al Ittihad to make the transfer permanent.
Al Ittihad are expected to pay Benfica a loan fee of around €3 million and take full responsibility for Ríos’ salary during his spell at the club.
The 26 year old midfielder joined Benfica from Palmeiras last year after an impressive period in Brazilian football. His first season in Portugal produced eight goals and six assists in 45 appearances across competitions.
However, Ríos has found his opportunities more limited at the beginning of the current campaign under manager Marco Silva. He has started only one match and has made five further appearances as a substitute.
The arrival of João Palhinha at Benfica has also increased competition in midfield and contributed to Ríos becoming available for a temporary move.
The Colombian midfielder attracted interest from several clubs during the transfer window, but Al Ittihad eventually moved to secure his services as the deadline approached.
For Benfica, the loan provides an opportunity to reduce their wage commitments while allowing Ríos to continue playing regular competitive football. The Portuguese club will retain ownership of the player, whose contract runs until 2030.
Ríos is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia to complete the remaining formalities and finalise his move before the transfer window closes.
The move will represent another chapter in the midfielder’s rapidly developing career. Before joining Benfica, Ríos established himself as an important player at Palmeiras and became a regular member of the Colombian national team.
At Al Ittihad, he will join a squad containing several high profile players and will be expected to strengthen the club’s midfield options for the new Saudi Pro League campaign.
The temporary move also gives Ríos the opportunity to secure consistent playing time and regain his position as one of the leading midfielders in the Colombian national team setup.
With the agreement between Benfica and Al Ittihad now in place, only the final formalities remain before the transfer is completed.
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