The football world never truly sleeps, and for clubs gearing up for the next season, the pace is picking up. Gil Vicente, a team known for battling hard in Portugal’s top league, is making big moves. They’re bringing in fresh talent, and one name stands out: Gustavo Varela.
This young forward, just 20 years old, is joining Gil Vicente on a one-year loan from Benfica for the 2025/26 season. It’s a smart play that could benefit everyone. Varela gets crucial playing time, and Gil Vicente adds some serious attacking flair to their roster.
Varela’s path to this point has been quite a journey. He kicked off his youth career at Sporting before heading abroad to Greece with PAOK. But Portugal called him back in 2021, and he joined Benfica’s youth setup. His hard work paid off, earning him a debut with Benfica’s senior team in the 2023/24 season. He has also proudly worn his country’s colors, representing Portugal 19 times across various youth levels and scoring five goals.
Most recently, Varela showed his scoring touch with Benfica’s B team. Over the last two seasons, he netted 14 goals in 56 games in the second division. He was particularly sharp in 2024/25, finding the back of the net 11 times. That kind of consistent performance suggests he’s ready for the challenge of top-flight football.
Gil Vicente isn’t just relying on Varela. They are building a new-look squad, adding a mix of experience and potential across the pitch. Here’s a quick look at some of the other players heading to Barcelos for the new season:
- Dani Figueira, a goalkeeper, arrives from Estoril.
- Ghislain Konan, a left-back from Ivory Coast, joins after playing for Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.
- Antonio Espigares, a Spanish central defender, comes over from Villarreal.
- Luís Esteves, a Portuguese attacking midfielder, makes the switch from Nacional.
With these fresh faces, Gil Vicente is clearly aiming to make some noise. It will be interesting to see how Varela and the rest of the new recruits settle in.
