Jakob Kaminski is poised to complete a move to Benfica this summer, with the Portuguese club currently leading Brighton & Hove Albion in the pursuit of the 1. FC Köln midfielder. Benfica are reportedly prepared to activate the release clause in Kaminski’s contract, a figure Sky Germany reports to be around €20 million.
Negotiations between Benfica and Köln are ongoing, though the Bundesliga club are said to be optimistic about the deal’s progression. Kaminski himself is understood to be enthusiastic about the opportunity to join Benfica, attracted by the prospect of competing in the Europa League and furthering his career at a prominent European club. Brighton had previously expressed interest in the Polish international, but have seemingly lost ground in the transfer race.
Kaminski enjoyed a successful first season with Köln after joining from Wolfsburg last summer. He became a key figure in the Effzeh midfield, contributing seven goals and three assists in 34 Bundesliga appearances during the 2025/26 campaign. Prior to his move to Köln, Kaminski spent several seasons with Wolfsburg, though he often found himself in a rotational role, making 66 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Benfica are bolstering their midfield options ahead of a campaign where they will be looking to regain the Portuguese Primeira Liga title. The departure of João Neves to Benfica’s rivals Porto earlier this month created a void in the squad, and Kaminski is seen as a suitable replacement. This transfer could provide Kaminski with a platform to showcase his talents on a larger stage and potentially attract interest from other top European clubs in the future.
