Very few clubs can successfully fast-track the development of young talents like SL Benfica. Their knack for integrating these players into the first team and selling them for huge profits has made them one of the top operators in the market.
Joao Neves' trajectory over the last 12 months signals that he is the next big talent from Seixal. He seamlessly transitioned into the first-team last season and helped As Aguias make up for the departure of Enzo Fernandez.
With a WhoScored rating of 7.15, Neves is the highest rated teenager in the Primeira Liga this season. He has grown into a pivotal player for the Portuguese giants, and is now a full international with Portugal.
His all-action style of play sees him top the charts for accurate passes and long balls within Roger Schmidt’s squad, and rank high for successful dribbles, tackles, and interceptions per 90 minutes.
Joao Neves Transfer Value - how much is he worth?
As per FootballTransfer’s Player Valuation Model, Neves has a current Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €41.3m. He leads the way as the player with the highest ETV rise since the start of 2024.
His consistent performances as a teenager have led to his value more than doubling in the past few months, and put him on the radar of virtually every top European club. Benfica are the absolute best at milking every last cent for their players, and have inserted a reported €120m release clause in his contract.
Neves is showing great signs of blossoming into one of the best players in his position, and his growing status could see him follow Fernandez and Joao Felix in becoming the clubs third nine-figure sale.
The stats - what does Joao Neves bring to a team?
Neves operates within a double pivot in Schmidt’s 4-2-3-1 system, where his ball carrying and vision have seen him adeptly fill the void left by the departure of Fernandez.
In the words of his manager, the Portuguese midfielder is "very good under pressure, very good with the ball, always available and very courageous". That is a great way to sum up what he brings to a team.
Let’s break that down.
Neves shows great passing range and volume, attempting almost 82 passes per 90 with good variation and progression. He does this at a completion rate that puts him in the 93rd percentile of midfielders in the league.
The Benfica number 87 also brings great energy on the pitch, and has the confidence to break lines from deep with his dribbling. In contrast to some young players who may shy away from the action, Neves’ 93+ touches per 90 show a willingness to always be involved.
His numbers from last season were solid, but the young midfielder shows a valuable trait by managing to improve in almost all metrics this campaign.
The teenager also displays strong defensive capabilities that highlight his all-round game.
Benfica has one of the fiercest high presses in the league and Neves plays a big role in that by making 0.58 tackles in the attacking third P90. This places him in the top 1% of midfielders in the league.
Their high line makes them vulnerable to counterattacks, but Neves is always on call to avert the danger, making a league-leading 8.5 ball recoveries and almost two successful tackles per 90.
Neves’ 1.74 metre frame can be seen as a weakness in the middle of the park, and the opposition often try to exploit this by targeting their goal kicks at him. But his fearless approach coupled with an impressive leap and timing see him win 1.68 aerials per 90 at a win rate of 58.2%.
It is too soon to judge the best role for the 19-year-old. He is showing an interesting blend of profiles that can even see him operate as a single pivot, or as a more box-to-box player.
2023 was a breakout year for Neves, but 2024 is promising to be even bigger.
This article was provided by FootballTransfers
