Gonçalo Franco seals Swansea City move
Swansea City has completed the signing of midfielder Gonçalo Franco for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.
The 23-year-old joins the Swans from Portuguese top-flight club Moreirense, having attracted the interest of a number of clubs, and has put pen to paper on a four-year contract in SA1.
Franco will wear the number 17 shirt for the Swans, and bolsters head coach Luke Williams’ options in the middle of the park where he will link up alongside the likes of captain Matt Grimes, Jay Fulton and Joe Allen.
Franco arrives in south Wales having been identified due to a high energy, all-action style of play.
Adept at reading the game and breaking up play, his ability to drive forward purposefully with the ball also allows him to start attacks in transition.
Once in the final third he has shown himself to be a creative presence, and able to chip in with his share of goals, having scored some spectacular strikes for Moreirense.
"We want to have a team with energy and intensity. That is really important and, from what we have seen, Gonçalo has that in abundance," said Swans boss Williams.
"We have seen the quality he has as well, he has shown some incredible actions to create goals and score goals.
"He is aggressive, he is not frightened to tackle and compete for the ball. He is an attacking player who has defensive instincts.
"After all of that, he is also a young man who is hungry and has ambition.
"He wants to improve his career, he is not afraid to make this step into a new culture and a new country.
"When I spoke to him, I got the feeling that as a club - with the values we have - we are going to be able to relate to him, and he to us.
"No-one should underestimate the importance of that and we are excited to get him out on the training pitch and give him the chance to build relationships with his teammates."
Franco, whose father Pedro was also a professional footballer, spent time in the youth ranks of Boavista, Porto, Rio Ave and Leixões, making his senior breakthrough with the latter in 2020.
His industrious performances earned him a move to top-flight Moreirense, and he has been an integral figure over his four seasons with the club, making 129 league appearances and contributing nine goals.
Last term he played against his new Swans teammate Ronald when Moreirense faced Estrela da Amadora, and their respective arrivals reflect the club’s desire to scout outside more traditional markets for signings, as part of a global outlook towards player recruitment.
The Portugal Under-20 international helped Moreirense secure an immediate return to the top tier following relegation in 2022, and was a stand-out performer as they secured a sixth-place finish in the Primeira Liga last season.