Franjo Ivanovic (22) joined RC Lens on loan from Benfica over the summer. The centre-forward has confirmed that his move to the Stade Bollaert will not be made permanent at the end of the season.

Ivanovic joined Benfica back in the summer of 2025 but struggled to make a big impact in his opening campaign in Portugal and so he departed on loan to Lens, where he will accrue UEFA Champions League experience. The Croatian forward has played six times for Les Sang et Or, scoring twice in that time. He came off the bench but did not get on the scoresheet in RCL’s final game before the international break, a 2-1 defeat away to AS Monaco.

His form under Dino Toppmöller, who has since left his role as manager of Lens, has earned him a place in Croatia’s squad for the current international break. It is there that he made a statement on his longer-term future.

“I am happy to have gone there (to Lens). I think that it was a good step for me. I have started very well . Now, there has been a change of manager. That is part of football; it is the club’s decision. I am a Benfica player. I will be back there next summer,” said Ivanovic.