Chelsea have locked their approach for Benfica centre-back Tomás Araújo. They prepared an official move to meet their defensive reinforcement ahead of the 2025/26 Champions League season. The 23-year-old Portuguese international has become a priority target for the Blues. They actively want to stimulate the €80m (£67m) release clause, which is presently stagnant due to Benfica’ resistant position.
Araújo signed a new deal with Benfica in November 2024, which ran until 2029 and inserted the sizeable exit clause. Benfica have refused to discuss any kind of possibility at present lower than the clause. The sporting director Rui Costa has stressed he wants to keep hold of the star defender. Araújo’s worth escalated during the 2024/25, where he started 28 league games (10 clean sheets) and ranked amongst the best defenders in Portugal in terms of progressive carries, tackles won, and passes into the final third. The tactical versatility of Araújo is an added bonus for Chelsea getting him locked, given Reece James’ injury record, as he can play centre-back and can cover right-back.
The Blues are in a rush to sign Araújo due to a planned defensive clear out. This means Disasi and Badiashile will likely be sold. Moreover, Fofana’s omission from the Club World Cup team illustrates his diminished status. The additions of Levi Colwill and more recently Mamadou Sarr build depth for the clubs circumstance. Still, Manager Enzo Maresca sees Araújo’s calmness under pressure and football brain as the type of player that fits the club’s system. However, Chelsea will have competition from Liverpool and PSG, both of whom are monitoring Araújo for a long term defensive option.
Tomas Araujo linked with chelsea today.
Age: 23
Current club: Benfica
Position: CB (RB)
Height: 6″2
Release clause: £67m pic.twitter.com/pS9AQLkoVx
Chelsea locked unsuccessful bid of €60m for the player in 2024, which was quickly turned down. Given Benfica’s financial solidity, they have also strengthened their position. Club insiders have expressed that the club can remain patient on a sale. They are also well aware that if comes a lucrative offer for the player, Benfica might have no choice. For Chelsea, to trigger Araújo’s €80m release clause would represent the club’s second-highest defensive signing after Wesley Fofana for £70m. It would affirm the clubs intentions this window, while navigating bilateral for a goalkeeper and winger.
🚨 Chelsea have made contact with Benfica over a deal to sign Tomás Araújo, with the club willing to let Axel Disasi leave in January.
(Source @TEAMtalk) pic.twitter.com/IJ7HXeS8rC
Acquiring Araújo will have consequences for Chelsea’s youth pathway. Josh Acheampong, who Maresca labelled as a “future top player” at the academy, could find his first-team chances limited due to Araújo’s arrival (and would presumably need a loan move if that is the case) at 19; also, Araújo’s addition would solidify Chelsea’s shift toward *technical defenders* who are built to play as ball-playing defenders, who initiate attacks from deepest positions, aligning to Maresca’s style of play.
With the summer window reopening on June 16, Chelsea’s executive team must decide if they want to pay Araújo’s clause without delay or seek the potential to structure payments to alleviate Financial Fair Play. Benfica are not looking to compromise on Araújo, so this saga presents a significant litmus test of Chelsea’s negotiation capability. As one source said, “Benfica don’t have to sell – but everybody has a price”. If Araújo does happen, it will demonstrate Chelsea’s inexorable ambition to pair elite, developmental prospects alongside impact players ready for the first-team.
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