Highly rated Charlton Athletic youngster Jeremy Sarmiento is on the verge of joining Portuguese giants Benfica.
Though a deal has not yet been formalised, the 16-year-old has already been pictured in the colours of his new club and is the latest young English prospect to make the move to the continent despite interest from Manchester City.
Charlton had been very keen to keep Sarmiento but due to his age the England Under-16 international, who was born in Madrid to Ecuadorian parents but moved to London at the age of seven, was free to pursue a move that will see him join up with former Arsenal winger Chris Willock.
Sarmiento has yet to appear in the Charlton first team but is held in high regard by the club’s setup and featured for the Addicks’ Under-23s side.
Academy manager Steve Avory described him as "an exciting player ... a wide forward, rather than a winger".
The latest young star of an academy production line that has sent Joe Gomez and Ademola Lookman to the Premier League in recent years, Sarmiento can also play as a No.10 and has exceptional technical prowess and pace.
