Lens snatch teenage midfielder as Benfica bid falls short

Sixteen‑year‑old attacking midfielder Mezian Mesloub has rejected a contract offer from SL Benfica to sign his first professional deal with French side RC Lens, L’Équipe reports. The French‑born Portuguese youth international will join the senior squad for the upcoming season after impressing in Lens’s academy and preseason.

Les Sang et Or have pinpointed a clear need for a creative attacking midfielder after senior departures, prompting RC Lens to prioritise securing the youngster. The club view the 16‑year‑old as a key element of its tactical refresh and as essential to safeguarding future assets amid interest from clubs such as PSV Eindhoven.

Mesloub rose through the Lens youth academy and made his professional debut off the bench in May, netting the winner five seconds after entering a 1‑0 victory over FC Nantes, demonstrating composure beyond his years. He then featured in Lens’s first preseason match, a 4‑1 win over US Boulogne CO, where he scored twice in the second half, reinforcing the decision to lock him down.

With the contract expected to be formalised imminently, Mesloub will join the senior squad for the upcoming season, fulfilling Lens’s summer objective of securing the promising midfielder. The move also signals the teenager’s commitment to develop at a club that values his potential over the offer from SL Benfica.