Three contracts renewed

RENEWALS

Right-back Diogo Spencer, midfielder Diogo Prioste and midfielder/forward Hugo Félix renewed their contract with Sport Lisboa e Benfica until 2029.

In his 9th season with the club, Diogo Filipe Spencer Marques joined SG Sacavenense in 2016/17 in the Under-13 age group, after starting his career at Amadora CF and also representing CA Cultural da Pontinha.

Winner of the UEFA Youth League in 2021/22 and U-19 national champion in the same season, the 20-year-old right-back (17/04/2004) made his first team debut for the eagles last season, in the Benfica-Moreirense (3-0) – Liga Betclic matchday 29 on April 14, 2024 -, coming on in the 89th minute.

This season, the Under-21 player has played 15 matches for Benfica B (13 in Liga 2 and two in the Premier League International Cup), and in total, the Portugal Under-20 international has played 26 matches in Liga 2.

Diogo Spencer told BTV that he felt “an inexplicable feeling” about extending his contract. "It's a dream I've always wanted since I was at Benfica. I just have to keep working to have more of these sensations," he said.

Analyzing his Benfica career so far, the defender highlighted the trophies won with his teammates: "I'd like to highlight the happy moments with the team over the years, titles with friends I've been with since I was a kid and the championships we've won."

"We're doing very well [in Liga 2], we just have to keep going. We know it's a very demanding league, and it helps us grow individually and collectively. It's about continuing to do the work we've been doing throughout these games and winning them," said the Benfica B right-back.

A midfielder, Diogo Ferreira Prioste joined Benfica when he was just six years old, in 2010/11, from Damaia GC, where he started his career. In 2021/22, he won the U-19 national championship and was part of the group that won the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup in 2022.

Now in his 15th season with an eagle on his chest, the Under-21 player was named Best Young Player of August/September in Liga 2 by the Players' Union and was also voted Best Midfielder of November in the same competition by Liga Portugal.

With 13 appearances in Liga 2 this season, in which he has scored four goals, the 20-year-old midfielder (26/03/2004) has made 41 appearances in the competition. Diogo Prioste also has 35 international caps and three goals for Portugal's youth national teams.

"I'm very happy about this renewal. I'd like to thank the club for this vote of confidence. Now I just have to keep working for what's to come," said the B team player

Diogo Prioste expressed his gratitude and pride at his achievement and his ambition for more: "I owe everything to Benfica, it was Benfica that saw me grow up. I'm very happy with the years I've spent here, and I hope to continue doing so, because I still have a goal to achieve, which is to make my first-team debut."

Stressing that it's “a long league” and that “only at the end of the season do you do the math”, the midfielder wants to “keep working” to get Benfica B to the end of the season: “We've come a long way so far, but, above all, we have to keep working, game by game, training by training.”

Hugo Félix Sequeira joined the Benfica Training Center in Viseu in 2015/16, when he was a U12 player, joining the Benfica Campus the following season. He had previously played for FC Porto.

Like Diogo Spencer, the 20-year-old midfielder/forward (03/03/2004) also won the UEFA Youth League and the U-19 National Championship in 2021/22.

Now in his 10th season with the "Manto Sagrado", the Under-21 youngster has scored two goals in 14 Liga 2 appearances, and has also represented the Reds' B team in two Premier League International Cup matches. This brings his total to 43 appearances in the 2nd National Division, as well as 45 international caps and 12 goals for the Portuguese youth teams.

Hugo Félix shared “a feeling of pride” at renewing his contract with Benfica, interpreting the new link as recognition “that things are being done well”. “It's a sign that the club trusts me, and all I can do is keep working hard for more of these moments to come,” he added.

The athlete believes that this “has been a year of great development, both professionally and personally”, and his ambition is to “continue working every day to achieve his biggest dream”

The midfielder/forward set out his goals: “To keep playing good games, for the team to win, for us to have a good campaign - as we have been doing - to make history in the B team and, in the medium and long term, to make my debut at the Estádio da Luz.”