Benfica sign Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati from Parma

Alessandro Circati has become the latest Socceroos star to earn a move off the back of the FIFA World Cup, after Portuguese giants Benfica announced his signing on a five-year deal that, according to reports, represents a new record for an Australian player.

Reports first emerged on Tuesday that talks between Benfica and Serie A outfit Parma over Circati's transfer were at an advanced stage and, just hours later, Fabrizio Romano posted on social media that personal terms had been agreed and that a fee of €20 million, plus add-ons, for the 22-year-old's services had been settled upon.

While the exact nature of those add-ons has yet to be revealed, the price tag will almost certainly represent a new record for an Australian player, eclipsing the £15 million initial fee and £5 million in potential add-ons that Leicester City paid Stoke City for Harry Souttar during the January window of 2023.

It also means that the Australian transfer record has been broken in the immediate aftermath of the last two FIFA World Cups, with one of the Socceroos' starting centre-backs setting the new high-water mark each time.

Making his return from a torn ACL, Circati started 31 games for Parma during the 2025-26 season, establishing himself as one of Serie A's best young defenders and reportedly coming onto the radar of the likes of Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain.

On an international level, he quickly became a fixture of Tony Popovic's teams and became the youngest captain of the Australian national team since 1981 -- and its fourth-youngest ever -- when he wore the armband in a friendly against New Zealand in just his seventh cap in November of 2025.

Born in Italy but moving to Australia at age one and coming through the Perth Glory academy, Circati started all four games for Australia at the most recent World Cup, helping the Socceroos keep two clean sheets.

He now joins a Benfica side that named former Fulham boss Marco Silva as José Mourinho's replacement after he departed for Real Madrid in June.

The home of the legendary Eusébio, Benfica are coming off a 2025-26 in which they finished third in the Primeira Liga and, after securing a place in the knockout stages after a 98th-minute winner from goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin against Madrid on the final day of league play, were eliminated by the Spanish giants in the UEFA Champions League knockout phase playoffs.

Beginning their 2026-27 campaign with a draw against Académico de Viseu and a thumping 7-0 win over Casa Pia, they will face Danish powers AGF in the coming weeks to playoff for a spot in the UEFA Europa League's league phase, with the loser to be sent to the UEFA Conference League.

Circati is the second young Australian starlet in as many weeks to secure a move to a Portuguese giant, after Nestory Irankunda also landed in Lisbon after shifting from Championship side Watford to UEFA Champions League-bound Sporting CP.

Reports have also linked striker Mohamed Toure with a possible move to Sporting or reigning champions FC Porto, as well as Premier League outfit Hull City, who themselves just signed 18-year-old Socceroo defender Lucas Herrington.

In all, 11 members of Popovic's squad at the most recent World Cup have made permanent transfers since the tournament's end, with Mathew Ryan also inking a contract extension with LaLiga side Levante and reports continuing to link Souttar with moves to Championship sides Sheffield United and Wrexham.

The Socceroos will return to action in September when they play a two-game series against Brazil in Queensland, and will enter next January's Asian Cup as one of the tournament's favourites.