West Ham United midfielder Edson Álvarez has been linked with a move to Benfica, although reports in Portugal have already played down that possibility.
Álvarez returned to the Hammers after spending the 2025/26 season on loan at Fenerbahçe. His future in London remains unclear, which has naturally led to speculation over another move this summer.
Mexican outlet El Futbolero now claims Benfica have placed the 28-year-old on their radar.
As we have been following closely, the Bundesliga had looked the most likely destination for Álvarez in recent weeks. FC Köln are still linked with the midfielder, although that move now appears to have stalled.
They add that Marco Silva could play a decisive role in any potential deal, with the Portuguese coach said to have requested the midfielder’s arrival. That version, however, clashes directly with information published in Portugal last week.
Portuguese reports dismiss Benfica interest
Edson Álvarez was mentioned as a possible option for Benfica, yet O Jogo reported that he was “not being considered” by the Lisbon club.
The Portuguese newspaper said it had established that the Mexico international was outside Benfica’s plans.
That makes the latest claims from Mexico difficult to treat as confirmation of genuine negotiations. El Futbolero does not point to a formal offer from Benfica. It instead refers to reports and versions suggesting Marco Silva wants the player for his midfield.
Álvarez remains under contract with West Ham until June 2028. Benfica would therefore need to negotiate directly with the English club. The Mexican report also states that Köln have shown interest and may already have contacted the player.
Return to West Ham after Fenerbahçe loan
Edson Álvarez made 18 appearances during his season with Fenerbahçe. He then featured four times for Mexico at the World Cup, starting two of those matches.
Before leaving England temporarily, he had made 73 competitive appearances for West Ham. He contributed two goals and three assists during that period.
His longest European spell came with Ajax. Álvarez played 147 matches for the Dutch club between 2019 and 2023, scoring 13 goals before joining West Ham.
El Futbolero also points towards Marco Silva’s previous work with Raúl Jiménez. The striker joined Fulham in 2023 after losing prominence at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He then rebuilt his form under Silva.
Jiménez made 115 appearances across three seasons, scoring 31 goals and providing six assists. He registered 14 goals during the 2024/25 campaign. That history is used in Mexico to support the idea that Silva could help Álvarez revive his career in Europe.
For now, however, the stronger information from Portugal says Benfica are not pursuing the West Ham player. So until there is a fresh development from Lisbon, the Mexican claims appear to remain isolated.
