Filipe Oliveira delighted with Braga return

Former Chelsea defender returns to home-town club

Sporting Braga have made a second acquisition in as many days as the Aresenaltisas signed right-back Filipe Oliveira to a short-term contract. The 24-year-old arrives via Leixoes and will remain with the Bracarense for the next two years.

Oliveira returns to his home city. He was groomed at Braga’s youth academies before being plucked by FC Porto at 15 years of age. Since then, Oliveira has spent time with Chelsea, Maritimo and Leixoes.

The well travelled defender is thrilled to return to the city and club where his career began and confesses that his thoughts were never far from the club no matter where he was.

“I have always had a lot of respect for Braga. Naturally I feel privileged to have returned to the house where it all started. Now I just want to help the club,” beamed Oliveira.

“Even at a long distance, I never disconnected myself from the club. Despite being a professional in all the clubs I represented, I never stopped following what happened with Braga. For example, when I was in England, I took advantage of my rest days and attended the inauguration of the Estadio Municipal de Braga (now the Esatdio AXA).”

Oliveira becomes the club’s seventh new signing after Evaldo, Moises, Mario Felgueiras, Jose Manuel, Rainford Kalaba and new coach Jorge Jesus. The club have also seen the likes of Miguelito, Carlos Fernandes, Pablo Contreras make their way out the exit door.