SL Benfica - Manu Silva, #16
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Raised in Santa Maria da Feira and the son of former professional Jorge Silva, the towering defensive midfielder was formed at União de Lamas before completing his development at Feirense.
Promoted to the senior squad in 2020, he made his professional debut in Liga Portugal 2 in August 2021 and quickly grew into one of the division's most promising young midfielders. In January 2023 he stepped up to the Primeira Liga with Vitória SC, where two seasons of consistent performances, including European competition, brought him to Benfica's attention.
On 20 January 2025 Silva signed for Benfica on a contract until June 2030, debuting for the Encarnados days later. A serious knee injury sustained in February 2025 interrupted his first months at the club, but he completed his comeback in November 2025, returning to action in the UEFA Champions League against Ajax.
Standing 1.90m, he combines aerial dominance and physical strength with a composed passing range from the base of midfield.
| By Season | Min | Apps | Start | Sub | Goals | Ast | YC | RC | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 153 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
 Portugal League Betclic | 153 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| 2025/26 | 321 | 12 | 3 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - |
 Portugal League Betclic | 165 | 9 | 1 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - |
 Allianz Cup | 49 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
 Portuguese Cup Generali Tranquilidade | 105 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
 UEFA Champions League | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2026/27 | 234 | 4 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - |
 UEFA Europa League Qualifying | 201 | 3 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
 Portugal League Betclic | 33 | 1 | - | 1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 708 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| By Competition | Seasons | Apps | Goals | Ast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portuguese League | 3 | 13 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
| UEFA Europa League | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
| League Cup | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Portuguese Cup | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| UEFA Champions League | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - |
| Career | - | 19 | - | 1 | 1 | - |
Latest Appearances
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Minutes Played | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 AUG MON 20:15 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 2 | A | 0-7 | →59' | 33' | ||
13 AUG THU 19:45 | UEFA Europa League QualifyingThird Qualifying Round (2nd Leg) | A | 1-1 | XI | 94' | ||
6 AUG THU 20:00 | UEFA Europa League QualifyingThird Qualifying Round (1st Leg) | H | 6-1 | →73' | 22' | ||
23 JUL THU 19:00 | UEFA Europa League QualifyingSecond Qualifying Round (1st Leg) | A | 2-1 | XI←84' | 85' | ||
16 MAY SAT 20:30 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 34 | A | 1-3 | →80' | 12' | ||
Latest Assists
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Assists | Assist Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 FEB SUN 20:30 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 20 | A | 2-3 | 1 | 34' |
Latest Bookings
| Date | Competition | Venue | Opponent | Result | Yellow Cards | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 FEB SUN 20:30 | Portugal League BetclicMatchday 20 | A | 2-3 | 1 | 37' |