Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport

Carlos Vinicius to Tottenham announced: Benfica confirm striker will join Spurs on initial loan deal

Benfica have confirmed that striker Carlos Vinicius has agreed a season-long loan to join Tottenham.

The Portuguese side made an official announcement late Thursday evening.

As reported by Standard Sport earlier in the day, Spurs will pay a €3million loan fee with the option of making the move permanent at the end of the season .

An official statement from Benfica read: "Sport Lisboa e Benfica - Futebol, SAD informed the Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that it reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur for the loan of player Carlos Vinicius until the end of the 2020-21 sports season for an amount of 3 millions of euros.

"The said agreement, communicated at 11:56 pm on Thursday, includes a purchase option clause in the amount of 45 million euros, to which, if exercised, the amount paid for the loan will be deducted.

"The agreement is dependent on the signing of the striker's sports work contract with Tottenham Hotspur."

Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Vinicius' pending move means Spurs finally have another striker on their books to ease the workload on Harry Kane, something they have been without since Fernando Llorente left the club last summer.

Boss Jose Mourinho has been desperate to sign a striker this summer, having been unable to do so in January, and will be delighted he has secured his main target.

It is understood Spurs have been interested in Vinicius for much of the transfer window but have only been able to strike a deal after circumstances at Benfica changed.

Vinicius scored 18 goals in 32 games for Benfica last season and with strong physicality appears suited to Mourinho's style of play.

Mourinho's tired side confirmed their place in the Europa League group stages on Thursday night Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Mourinho was asked about the deal after his side beat Maccabi Haifa 7-2 to book their place in the Europa League group stages, but he chose to remain tight-lipped.

"No, I want you to ask me that question when it's confirmed," he said.

"Nobody told me it's done so I'm going to respect the situation, respect the player, respect Benfica and wait a little bit more.

"Next time we see each other maybe I'm in conditions to answer."

Additional reporting by the Press Association

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.