Benfica close to signing Polish winger Jakub Kaminski from Köln for €20 million
Portuguese club Benfica is finalising the transfer of Polish international Jakub Kaminski from 1. FC Köln, with a fee around €20 million and a long-term contract agreed.
The deal
Benfica are on the verge of completing the signing of 24-year-old winger Jakub Kaminski from Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln. German journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that an agreement is in place between the clubs and only final details remain. The transfer fee is set at around €20 million, matching the player's release clause, which is valid only until mid-July before it rises.
Jakub Kaminski will be a Benfica player, with an agreement already in place with Köln.
Kaminski is expected to sign a long-term contract and could join Benfica's pre-season in time for their first competitive match on 23 July against St. Gallen in the Europa League second qualifying round.
Player profile
Kaminski spent last season on loan at Köln from Wolfsburg, and the club exercised a €5.5 million purchase option in June to make the move permanent. In 36 appearances during 2025/26, he scored seven goals and provided three assists (one German report cites five assists). A right-footed left winger standing 1.79 m, he has also earned 31 caps and three goals for Poland.
Competition
Benfica faced competition from Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and Bundesliga's RB Leipzig, but the Portuguese club moved ahead in negotiations. The release clause's imminent expiry added urgency, and Benfica are now poised to secure the player.
Other targets
While Kaminski fills the left-wing position coach Marco Silva wanted to strengthen, Benfica are also monitoring Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Equi Fernández, according to Bild. The 23-year-old Argentine has struggled for regular minutes since his €25 million move from Al-Qadisiyah and could be a future option, though no formal offer has been made.
- Köln exercises €5.5m purchase option to sign Kaminski permanently from Wolfsburg.
- Reports emerge that Benfica are in advanced talks to sign Kaminski.
- German media confirm deal is close; Kaminski set for long-term Benfica contract.
- Kaminski's €20m release clause expires; fee would rise afterwards.
- Köln pre-season training begins; Kaminski expected to have left by then.
- Benfica's first competitive match: Europa League qualifier vs St. Gallen.
What's next
Köln's pre-season training begins on 13 July, but Kaminski is expected to depart before then. Benfica have already signed Gabriel Índio and Clément Lenglet this window, and Kaminski would be their first attacking reinforcement. The club's early start to the 2026/27 season means the Polish winger could feature in European qualifiers within weeks.
