Barrenechea joins Benfica!

Enzo Barrenechea, 24, is a new signing for Sport Lisboa e Benfica's professional football team. The Argentine midfielder, wearing the new number 5 shirt, arrives at the club on loan from Aston Villa until the end of the 2025/26 season. The agreement includes an option to buy, which may become mandatory depending on certain objectives.

The terms of the deal were detailed to the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM): "Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD announces that it has reached an agreement with Aston Villa FC for the loan of player Enzo Barrenechea during the 2025/26 season for €3,000,000 (three million euros). The agreement includes an option to purchase, which may become mandatory upon achievement of certain objectives, for the permanent transfer of the player's sporting rights for the amount of €12,000,000 (twelve million euros). Benfica SAD will be entitled to retain the 5% solidarity mechanism for subsequent distribution to the clubs that participated in the player's training. It is also noted that Aston Villa FC will also be entitled to receive 30% of the capital gain obtained in a future transfer of the player, limited to a maximum of €10,000,000 (ten million euros)."

Officially announced as a new player for the Reds on Friday, July 18, the midfielder expressed his pride in representing the Eagles and left a message for Benfica fans.

"I'll give it my all on the pitch. We count on your support throughout the season," said Barrenechea, in an interview with BTV.

CAREER

Born in Villa María (Argentina), Barrenechea took his first steps in the youth ranks of Newell's Old Boys, and in the summer of 2019, he transferred to FC Sion, where he was integrated into the B team until January 2020, when he moved to Juventus.

As with his previous clubs, Barrenechea, then 18, was part of the youth teams and waited two seasons to make his debut for Juventus' first team. On November 2, 2022, he was launched in the match against PSG, counting for the group stage of the Champions League. This was the first of five games for Vecchia Signora in the 2022/23 season.

The following season (2023/24), the Argentine was loaned to first division side Frosinone and made a total of 39 appearances between Serie A (36) and the Italian Cup (3), scoring one goal.

In the summer of 2024, Barrenechea transferred to English club Aston Villa, but after the end of preseason training, he moved on loan to Valencia, recording one goal and two assists in 32 games in the 2024/25 season: 30 for La Liga and two for the Copa del Rey.

His strong performances in Spain, in a demanding environment, put him on the radar of the Argentina national team. In November 2024, he made his debut on coach Lionel Scaloni's squad list, and was called up again in June 2025, but he is still waiting to make his competitive debut in the blue and white jersey.