Colombian midfielder Juan Carlos "Julián" Ríos, 26 years old, will represent Al Ittihad on loan until June 2027, thus leaving Benfica. The deal is estimated at around 4 million euros, although it has not yet been officially confirmed by the clubs involved.
Ríos arrived at Benfica in 2023 from Atlético Nacional in Colombia, but never managed to establish himself as a regular starter in the Lisbon team. His time at the Portuguese club was marked by few opportunities to play and some inconsistency.
Al Ittihad, one of the main clubs in Saudi Arabia, has been investing significantly in South American players in recent years, seeking to strengthen their squad with international talent. The loan until 2027 suggests the Saudi club intends to count on Ríos as an important piece of their medium-term project.
With this transfer, Benfica frees up salary cap space and opens doors for new signings, in an effort to rebalance the club's finances. Ríos thus becomes another Colombian player trying their luck in Saudi football, joining a growing trend of South Americans opting for the Saudi Arabian league.
