João Afonso signs until 2031, calls Diogo Costa his idol
Your new goalkeeper is here. João Afonso joins from Santa Clara on a deal through 2031, becoming Porto's first signing for the 2026/27 season. The 21-year-old arrives with a €30M release clause already in his contract (1) (2).
And he's not hiding his feelings. "Diogo Costa has always been my idol," Afonso said, making it clear he knows exactly whose gloves he's eventually meant to fill (3). With Diogo Costa's €60M release clause a real concern for president André Villas-Boas, this move is as much about the future as the present.
Afonso is expected to develop initially with the B team, but the long-term plan is obvious. You don't hand a six-year contract to a goalkeeper you plan on keeping in the reserves forever.
Fernando Sá frustrated after playoff exit
Not the result you wanted. Porto fell short in the playoffs and manager Fernando Sá didn't sugarcoat it: "We couldn't manage our emotions the way a playoff requires" (4).
He also pointed to a "lack of energy" and "inefficiency" in the defeat, two things that will sting for a club that expects to compete for everything (5).
Fan-reaktioner
The subreddit is in a reflective mood today. A tribute to eternal captain Jorge Costa is getting plenty of love, while another thread is debating who was Porto's best player in 2025/26. Join the discussion here.
