Benfica Land Major Signing with Georgiy Sudakov Deal

Benfica have signed Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk. They paid €27 million, plus €5 million in bonuses. The Ukrainian international will wear the number 10 shirt for the Portuguese team this season.

WHAT HAPPENED?

After intense negotiations in recent days, Benfica reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign Sudakov. The final fee for the midfielder includes a €27 million base, €5 million in bonuses, and a sell-on clause of more than 20 percent. The midfielder, who was previously approached by English and Italian clubs, was convinced by Benfica’s project as well as with the team’s Ukrainian goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin, who reportedly played a crucial role in persuading him to join, outlining the project and ambition of the Portuguese giants.

SITUATION FOR CLUBS AND PLAYER

Sudakov, who will wear the number 10 shirt, arrives from being the creative heart of the Shakhtar Donetsk midfield last season, where he was in stunning form and contributed to 8 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. The 23-year-old played over 2,900 minutes on the pitch, becoming an ever-present player in their lineup. But despite his heroics, Shakhtar finished as clear winners in the Ukrainian Premier League last season. This time round, they will be missing a key component of their midfield. Benfica, meanwhile, have started the 2025-26 season on a strong note and are currently second on the table with nine points from three matches. They are level on points with Moreirense, Sporting CP and Porto, with these last two teams facing each other this weekend, and their next game will be a crucial away match against Alverca, who are fighting against relegation.

WHAT NEXT FOR BENFICA AND SUDAKOV?

Sudakov, whose contract will run through to 2030, will directly slot into Benfica’s starting eleven as their new number 10. His arrival only strengthens Benfica’s midfield ahead of their Champions League group stage opener next week. Meanwhile, for Shakhtar, Sudakov’s massive sale allows them to reinvest in the team; however, they will miss his creativity and vision while orchestrating their attack. Sudakov will be expected to be the playmaker Benfica lacked at the beginning of the season, and once again, the onus to deliver will lie with him as they aim to topple Sporting CP and Porto from the top of the table and go the distance in Europe. With a high-stakes derby against Sporting CP on the horizon, all eyes will be on his debut on September 21.