UpdatedAugust 30, 2024, 01:59
FootballZeki Amdouni arrives on loan at Benfica
A year after his transfer to Burnley, the 23-year-old Geneva striker is already leaving England. He is loaned to the Lisbon club with an option to buy.
by
Brice Cheneval
Zeki Amdouni leaves Burnley after 39 matches played, scoring 7 goals.
AFP
Zeki Amdouni (23) opens a new chapter in his young career. After Stade Lausanne Ouchy, Lausanne-Sport, FC Basel, and Burnley, the Geneva striker will discover a fifth professional club. As expected for several days, Benfica officially announced his arrival on loan for the season this Thursday evening. The Portuguese vice-champions also have an option to buy.
Transferred to Burnley a year ago, Amdouni’s situation worsened following the Clarets’ relegation to the second division in spring. Especially since the coach who brought him in, former Belgian defender Vincent Kompany, has moved on to Bayern Munich. Open to leaving, the Swiss international (19 caps) started the season with Burnley. He even distinguished himself by scoring a splendid goal on his first appearance.
He will compete for the title and the Champions League
It took until the last moments of the transfer window for his fate to be decided. At Benfica, Zeki Amdouni – called up with the Swiss national team for the next gathering – will wear the No. 7. He will play alongside renowned players such as Nicolas Otamendi, Renato Sanches, Joao Mario, and Angel Di Maria, as well as former Basel player Arthur Cabral.
This new challenge also brings more promising sporting prospects: in addition to joining a candidate for the national title, he will participate in the Champions League. Where the Eagles will face Barcelona, Bayern Munich (which will lead to a warm reunion with Vincent Kompany), Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Feyenoord, Red Star Belgrade, Bologna, and Monaco.
Amdouni will become the third Swiss player to wear the Benfica jersey, after Loris Benito and Haris Seferovic. The latter, in particular, left a very good memory with the supporters (74 goals in 188 matches between 2017 and 2022). They will not complain if their recruit has the good idea to follow the same path.