The final 48 hours of the transfer window proved a busy period for various Portuguese sealing late transfers across Europe. Rafael Leão’s move to Galatasaray on Saturday set the tone, after which several Seleção internationals managed to secure their futures during the final hours of the summer market.
Sporting saw the departure of two established players as Pedro Gonçalves and Daniel Bragança moved to Italian football with Fiorentina and Torino respectively. Both deals are initial loan moves, with Fiorentina paying €2.5m for Gonçalves with a €22.5m potential purchase clause which would be mandatory if certain obligations are met, while Torino will shell out €1m for Bragança’s services this term with a modest €2.5m permanent option.
Also making a loan move, albeit with potentially different intentions, in Chelsea’s Dário Essugo, whom the Premier League side have loaned to their sister club Strasbourg in France. Essugo is thought to be highly regarded by Blues boss Xabi Alonso, but with no European football there are likely to be few opportunities for the former Sporting man, who will be hoping to gain valuable experience in Ligue 1.
Hamburg’s objective to secure a permanent deal for Fábio Vieira was a long-running story for the German club’s supporters this summer. Vieira impressed in the Bundesliga on loan with Hamburg last season, scoring an impressive 7 goals from 30 appearances for the club, leading to a permanent deal being agreed on deadline day for a fee believed to be in the region of €10m.
Another player staying put after a successful loan is veteran midfielder João Mário. The Euro 2016 winner scored the league-clinching goal for AEK in Greece at the end of last season while on loan from Besiktas, meaning his permanent signing was a major target for AEK, who were delighted to announce the signing of their “champion” on Wednesday.
An intriguing signing in Spain saw Sevilla secure a late deal for well-travelled attacker Félix Correia from Lille. The 25-year-old heads to La Liga on an initial loan deal, in what is the latest of a series of moves for the Portugal U21 international during his career. Correia was in Sporting’s ranks before coming through at Manchester City, since when he has spent time with Juventus, Parma, Marítimo and Gil Vicente before moving to Lille, where he enjoyed some bright spells.
André Almeida had seen his name on the transfer gossip columns this summer and a deadline-day loan move from Valencia to Racing Santander sees the midfielder remain in Spain. At one stage Almeida appeared close to heading to the English Championship with Vítor Matos’ Swansea City after a permanent deal was agreed, but the former Vitória man rejected the move, meaning Almeida instead remains in La Liga with Racing, who will pay €500,000 for his loan.
All deals involving Portuguese abroad in the final 48 hours of the window:
Valentino Pereira, forward, 22, from DOXA (Cyprus) to AO Miltiadis (Greece)
João Mário, midfielder, 33, from Besiktas (Türkiye) to AEK (Greece)
Nelson Monte, defender, 31, Almería (Spain) to Cordoba (Spain)
Miguel Vaz, forward, 20, from Vitória SC (Portugal) FC Atert-Bissen (Luxembourg)
Bruno Paz, midfielder, 28, from Otelul (Romania) to Olympiakos Nicosia (Cyprus)
Pedro Gonçalves, midfielder, 28, Sporting (Portugal) to Fiorentina (Italy)
Bougadense (Portugal) to Al Wahda (United Arab Emirates)
André Gonçalves, midfielder, 23, from FC Veres (Ukraine) to Polissya (Ukraine)
Dylan Almeida, midfielder, 19, from Elvas (Portugal) to Mérida (Spain)
Dário Essugo, midfielder, 21, from Chelsea (England) to Strasbourg (France) on LOAN
Daniel Bragança, midfielder, 27, Sporting (Portugal) to Torino (Italy) on LOAN
David Ivanov, goalkeeper, 20, from Torreense (Portugal) to FC Atert-Bissen
João Silva, defender, 28, from FC Pompei (Italy) to Chisola (Italy)
Christian Faneca. Forward, 29, from Vila Flor (Portugal) to Vernayaz (Switzerland)
Leonardo Lelo, defender, 26, from Braga (Portugal) to Almería (Spain)
Gonçalo Vilhena, defender, 23, From U Tires (Portugal) to Pyunik (Armenia)
Rony Lopes, midfielder, 30, from Tondela (Portugal) to Motor Lublin (Poland)
Luís Hemir, forward, 23, from Sunderland (England) to Clermont (France)
Dani Silva, midfielder, 26, from Midtjylland (Denmark) to Widzew Lodz (Poland)
Diogo Careca, defender, 36, from Lajense (Portugal) to Syunik
André Almeida, midfielder, 26, Valencia (Spain) to Racing Santander (Spain)
Danny Henriques, defender, 29, from AEK Larnaca (Cyprus) to Omonia (Cyprus)
Diogo Zovo, forward, 24, from Linda-a-velha (Portugal) to Imishli (Azerbaijan)
Luis Ferraz, defender, 29, from Vila Caiz (Portugal) to Pyunik (Armenia)
Miguel Rebelo, midfielder, 22, from Académica OAF (Portugal) to Atert Bissen (Luxembourg)
Martin Aleixo, forward, 23, AD Baião (Portugal) to Desert Falcon (United Arab Emirates)
Félix Correia, midfielder, 25, from Lille (France) to Sevilla (Spain) on LOAN
Gonçalo Oliveira, defender, 20, from Benfica (Portugal) to Rennes (France)
Léo Fajardo, forward, 19, from Porto (Portugal) to Lecce (Italy)
Fábio Vieira, midfielder, 26, from Arsenal (England) to Hamburg (Germany)
