Tosin Adarabioyo linked with Benfica move as Chelsea contract runs to 2028

Tosin Adarabioyo has been identified as a potential Benfica signing, according to Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha.

The 28-year-old defender is under contract with Chelsea until the middle of 2028, meaning any move to Lisbon would involve negotiations with the Premier League club rather than a free transfer.

Adarabioyo’s previous relationship with the Portuguese successor to Jose Mourinho is understood to be central to Benfica’s interest. The pair worked together during their time at Fulham, and that familiarity is said to have encouraged the manager to consider taking the defender to Benfica.

The report does not indicate that a transfer has been completed, but it places Adarabioyo among the players being considered for a move to the Portuguese club. His existing Chelsea agreement remains in place until mid-2028, giving the London side a substantial contractual position should Benfica decide to pursue the defender.

Adarabioyo’s connection with the manager dates back to Fulham, where their time working together created the relationship now said to be influencing Benfica’s interest. That previous association is the reason the Portuguese coach reportedly wants the defender to join him in Lisbon.

For now, the central details are the reported interest from Benfica, Adarabioyo’s age and his long-term Chelsea contract. The defender is 28 and remains tied to Chelsea for almost two more years beyond the current period, while Benfica’s interest has been reported by Correio da Manha.

The possibility of a move therefore rests on whether Benfica can reach an agreement with Chelsea and persuade Adarabioyo to make the switch. No further terms have been reported, and there is no confirmation that a deal is close.

Adarabioyo’s history with the manager gives Benfica a clear link to the player, but his contract means the situation is not simply a matter of agreeing personal terms. Any potential transfer would also have to take account of Chelsea’s ownership of the defender’s registration through the middle of 2028.

The reported approach would take Adarabioyo from Chelsea to Benfica, with the Portuguese club looking to use an existing Fulham connection as part of its interest in the England-born defender. For the moment, however, the story remains at the stage of reported interest rather than an agreed transfer.