Adel Taarabt has signed a five-year contract with Benfica after leaving Queens Park Rangers on a free transfer.
The Portuguese club greeted the arrival of the Moroccan midfielder by tweeting: “Taarabt signed for five seasons. You are welcome!”
QPR said on their website that his contract had been “terminated by mutual consent” following their relegation from the Premier League.
Taarabt had spent six years at Loftus Road where he made 164 appearances and scored 34 goals.
The 26-year-old joined QPR in March 2009 from Tottenham, initially on loan, before completing a permanent transfer in the summer of 2010 and went on to captain them to the 2011 Championship title.
Taarabt said on Benfica’s television station: “It is a huge opportunity for me. When my agent told me Benfica were interested, I immediately said: ‘Yes, I’m ready to go.’”
He fell out of favour under the then manager, Harry Redknapp, and was loaned out to Fulham and Milan during the 2013-14 season.
Last year Redknapp claimed Taarabt was “three stone overweight”, prompting the player to show off his torso in a move to prove his manager wrong.
QPR said: “The club wishes Adel well for the future.”
