Lisbon, Portugal – Sport Lisboa e Benfica has officially announced the acquisition of Spanish left-back Rafael Obrador from Real Madrid. The 21-year-old defender arrives at the Estádio da Luz having signed a contract that commits him to the Eagles until 2030.
The club confirmed the transfer through its official communication channels, stating that Obrador has completed his move from the Spanish capital to Lisbon. This particular transfer is notable as it is intrinsically linked to the widely reported potential move of defender Álvaro Carreras from Benfica to Real Madrid.
Obrador`s development path includes time within the youth systems of both Mallorca and Real Madrid. In the most recent season, he gained senior experience while on loan at Deportivo de La Coruña, competing in the Spanish Second Division. During his spell with Deportivo, the young full-back made 33 appearances, registering one assist. He originally joined Real Madrid in the 2021/22 season, featuring for their U19 side and later Real Madrid Castilla, the club`s reserve team.
His arrival in Lisbon took place late on Wednesday night at Humberto Delgado Airport. Obrador was reportedly accompanied by his family, agent, legal representative, and none other than Benfica`s sports director, Rui Pedro Braz, illustrating the club`s direct involvement in his welcome. When briefly speaking to journalists upon arrival, his comments were succinct and to the point, stating simply, “I am very content.”
While Benfica did not publicly disclose the financial terms of the deal, Portuguese sports media outlets have reported that the transfer fee for Obrador is in the region of 5 million euros. This fee is said to be part of the broader arrangement facilitating Álvaro Carreras` anticipated transfer to the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid, following their recent early exit from the Club World Cup, may now shift focus and potentially accelerate the completion of the Carreras deal, which in turn involves Obrador`s move to Portugal.
Rafael Obrador joins the Benfica squad to provide competition and depth on the left side of the defense. He will vie for a starting spot alongside Swedish international Samuel Dahl, offering coach Bruno Lage additional options as they prepare for the upcoming season.
