Swansea City completed the signing of midfielder Gonçalo Franco for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance, in July 2024

The 23-year-old joined the Swans from Portuguese top-flight club Moreirense, having attracted the interest of a number of clubs, and put pen to paper on a four-year contract in SA1. 

Franco wears the number 17 shirt for the Swans, and bolstered head coach Luke Williams’ options in the middle of the park alongside the likes of captain Matt Grimes, Jay Fulton and Joe Allen.

Franco arrived 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 had shown himself to be a creative presence, and able to chip in with his share of goals, having scored some spectacular strikes for Moreirense.

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.

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 in the 2023-24 season.