World Cup winner Capdevila joins Benfica

Spain defender Joan Capdevila has left Villarreal for Benfica on a two-year deal, the Portuguese club announced on their website on Thursday. Benfica added that the 33 year-old's contract includes a 20 million-euro release clause. Capdevila has been Spain's first-choice left-back for several years, and formed part of their Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup-winning sides. Capped 57 times, Capdevila has spent the last four seasons at Villarreal. Prior to that he was on the books at Deportivo La Coruna for seven years, helping them win the Copa del Rey in 2002 and to the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2004. His signing follows the arrivals of Portuguese international goalkeeper Eduardo, from Genoa, and Brazilian defender Emerson, from Lille. Benfica released no details regarding their transfers, although Emerson and Capdevila will now compete for the left-back berth at the Estadio da Luz following the sale of Fabio Coentrao to Real Madrid for 30 million euros ($43 million).