Australian international centre-back Alessandro Circati is on the verge of completing a 20 million euro transfer to Portuguese club Benfica from Italian side Parma.
The 22-year-old defender, who holds dual Italian and Australian nationality, played every minute of Australia's four matches at the recent World Cup in the United States.
Information regarding the ongoing negotiations and the subsequent agreement was reported on social media by sports journalists Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto.
Transfer negotiations in Rio Maior
The transfer discussions coincided with a high-profile meeting on Monday night in Rio Maior. Benfica president Rui Costa watched his team play Casa Pia from the stadium's presidential box alongside Kyle Krause, an American entrepreneur who recently acquired a majority stake in Casa Pia. Krause is also the owner of Parma, the Italian club that holds Circati's contract registration.
Rui Costa attended the match as Benfica sought their first league victory of the campaign, which ended in a 7-0 win over Casa Pia in Rio Maior.
Benfica's move for Circati follows changes to their squad after defender Amar Dedic left the club to join English side Newcastle United in a 35.9 million euro deal.
Career development and injury recovery
Circati stands 1.91 metres tall and weighs 78 kg. Football database Transfermarkt values the defender at 18 million euros. He is an international teammate of winger Nestory Irankunda, who plays for Benfica's Lisbon rivals Sporting CP.
Circati developed through the youth system at Australian club Perth Glory before moving to Parma in the 2020-21 season. He made his senior first-team debut for the Italian club during the following 2021-22 campaign.
During the 2024-25 season, Circati suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that sidelined him for 196 days. Considered a core player for Parma at the time, he scored one goal in 33 appearances that season after returning to action, maintaining a high level of performance that earned him a call-up to Australia's World Cup squad.
