Portuguese club Sport Lisboa e Benfica and Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad are close to reaching an agreement over a loan deal for Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos. The transfer depends only on the player agreeing to the final details with the Saudi club.
The proposed deal between the two teams will not feature an option to buy at the end of the loan period. Ríos remains under contract with the Lisbon club until 2030.
The 26-year-old midfielder joined Benfica from Brazilian team Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras one year ago in a transfer worth 27 million euros. During his debut season at the Estádio da Luz, he established himself as a regular feature in the squad, scoring eight goals and providing six assists across 45 appearances in all competitions.
Reduced role under Marco Silva
Ríos experienced a delayed start to the current campaign following his participation in the 2026 World Cup with the Colombia national team, which pushed back his pre-season preparations.
Since returning to club action, he has struggled for regular playing time under head coach Marco Silva. Silva has selected the Colombian midfielder in his starting lineup just once this season, which came during a 1-1 draw away against Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian.
Ríos has made five additional appearances for Benfica during the current campaign, but every one of those outings has come as a substitute.
Club context and next steps
Benfica, based in Lisbon and known as the Eagles, recruited Ríos to strengthen their central midfield after his impressive spell in Brazil with Palmeiras. Al Ittihad, based in Jeddah, have been active in attracting international talent to the Saudi Pro League.
Negotiations between the two clubs have progressed to the final stages. The completion of the deal now hinges on Ríos finalizing personal terms with Al Ittihad before the loan move is formally confirmed.
