Since then, Pavlidis has given interested clubs even more reasons to watch him. His start to the 2026/27 campaign has been excellent, and there’s plenty of praise coming from Portugal.
Pavlidis’ numbers are getting even better
The Greek international has been remarkably consistent since joining Benfica from AZ Alkmaar in 2024. He scored 30 goals in his first season and followed that with another 29 last year.
| Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 57 | 30 | 12 |
| 2025/26 | 48 | 29 | 6 |
| 2026/27 | 9 | 8 | 3 |
In the Portuguese league alone, Pavlidis has eight goals and three assists in eight appearances. That’s a goal contribution every 58 minutes.
He’s also outperforming his expected goals figure, scoring eight times from 6.5 xG.
The Portuguese press have been impressed. In August, A Bola highlighted that Pavlidis had scored ten goals in his first six official matches, including qualifiers. That was Benfica’s best start to a season by a striker since Mats Magnusson in 1989/90.
Record also pointed out that the Greek had broken his own personal records. He was then voted the Portuguese league’s best forward for August by the competition’s managers.
More than just a goalscorer
His finishing is attracting attention, but there’s more to Pavlidis’ game. Earlier this month, A Bola covered comments from former Tottenham ace Rafael van der Vaart. He was surprised by how well the striker had developed since leaving AZ Alkmaar.
Van der Vaart praised his ability to control the ball, turn in tight spaces and act as a focal point for his teammates.
That matches what we’ve seen from his performances in Portugal. Pavlidis regularly drops deeper, links up with attacking midfielders and creates space for others. So even when he doesn’t score, he can still make a difference.
That was the case against Vitória de Guimarães on Sunday. Benfica won 2-0, with Pavlidis providing an assist.
There’s still room for improvement, then. Record had previously identified consistency as something he needed to work on, particularly after occasional spells without goals. Still, the overall picture is extremely positive.
Why a January transfer could be difficult
Portuguese newspaper O Jogo has picked up on the trail from England, highlighting Tottenham’s interest in Pavlidis and the possibility of a move to North London.
Tottenham may like what they’re seeing, but getting Pavlidis out of Benfica halfway through the season looks complicated.
A Bola recently explained that Marco Silva made keeping the striker a priority when discussing his plans with the Portuguese club.
The manager reportedly blocked the possibility of a summer departure, and Pavlidis has since become even more important to his side.
Benfica have also rewarded him with a salary increase following Besiktas’ attempt to sign him. A contract extension beyond 2029 is reportedly being considered.
Pavlidis has previously expressed an interest in playing in the Premier League, which could work in Spurs’ favour. However, he has shown no intention of forcing his way out of Lisbon.
With his goalscoring numbers improving and Benfica determined to keep him, Tottenham could face an expensive negotiation in January.
