Dutch top talent snubs Liverpool & Dortmund and signs with 'gigantic club'

Imre Himmelbauer

• Updated: 31 Dec 2023 12:19 GMT
• 5 min read

Kyanno Silva has extended his expiring contract with Benfica, the Portuguese club announced through official channels.

The winger had an expiring contract in Lisbon and was being courted by Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool. His short-term contract allowed him to talk to other clubs about a free transfer in January, but that has now been prevented.

"I am very happy to extend my contract with Benfica, it is a huge club," Silva said on the club website. "The experience has been very good, I was well received by my teammates, I have grown as a player and I am very happy that I can play more years at the club."

Silva's stunning rise

Lorenzo Silva was picked up by Sparta Rotterdam in the summer of 2017 from the youth of SC Feyenoord, the amateur branch of the club from South Rotterdam. Four years later, Benfica decided to acquire the Dutch youngster.

In Portugal, he became a youth international of the Netherlands this year, though Lorenzo Silva has not yet made his debut for the senior squad of the Portuguese top club. This season, Silva has made fifteen appearances for Benfica's U23s: 11 in the Liga Revelação, Portugal's youth league, and four in the UEFA Youth League.

In the national competition, the gap to league leaders Estoril is now 14 points. Yet the attacker has not given up hope: "With the U23s, we will try to win the Liga Revelação. On an individual level, I want to score a lot of goals for my team and one day reach the first team."

Silva's performances and expiring contract made him an interesting transfer option given his significant potential, but Benfica have now quickly put to bed any potential talk of a departure of the 18-year-old.