Circati set to leave Parma for Benfica in €20m deal
Quick summary
Parma defender Circati is on the verge of completing a €20 million transfer to Portuguese side Benfica, according to reports.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceBenfica have reached an agreement with Parma to sign Alessandro Circati, with the Portuguese club paying around €20m for the Australian centre-back.
According to Sky Sport , personal terms with Circati were already in place before the two clubs settled on a fee, clearing the way for his move to Lisbon.
The 22-year-old, who also featured at this summer’s World Cup with Australia, is set to leave the club where he came through the youth ranks and made his first-team debut back in 2022.
UDINE, ITALY – APRIL 18: Arthur Atta of Udinese and Alessandro Circati of Parma in action during the Serie A match between Udinese Calcio and Parma Calcio 1913 at Stadio Friuli on April 18, 2026 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Timothy Rogers/Getty Images) Circati shines from Serie B promotion to Socceroos captain Nicknamed “Il Muro” (The Wall) by Parma supporters for his defending, Circati helped the club win promotion to Serie A in 2024 and established himself as one of their most important players last season, making 33 appearances across all competitions.
Born in Fidenza but raised in Perth from the age of one, he chose to represent Australia over Italy, going on to captain the Socceroos and become their youngest skipper since 1981.
His performances at the World Cup drew interest from several major European clubs, though it’s Benfica who have now moved fastest to get a deal over the line.
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What happened
Young Parma centre-back Circati is set to depart Serie A for Benfica in a deal worth €20 million. The transfer would represent a significant sale for Parma, who have developed the defender and now stand to earn a substantial fee. For Benfica, the signing would bolster their defensive options as they continue to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season in Portugal.
Chance analysis
A €20m move for Circati underlines Benfica's continued strategy of identifying and acquiring emerging European talent before prices escalate further. For Parma, selling a homegrown defender at a significant profit is a strong piece of business, though they will need to reinvest in their back line. The transfer reflects the growing financial power of Portuguese clubs in the player market and could shape defensive dynamics for both clubs next season.
Benfica strengthen their defensive options with a young Serie A-developed centre-back, while Parma lose a key defender and receive €20m in transfer revenue.