Sporting smash Portuguese transfer record to buy Braga’s Rodrigo Zalazar | OneFootball

Pending a medical today, Sporting have broken the domestic transfer record in Portugal to buy Uruguayan midfielder Rodrigo Zalazar from Braga. The €30 million signing is the highest transfer fee ever paid between two Portuguese clubs.

In a related deal, Braga will purchase Sporting right-back Diogo Travassos for €5.5 million.

Rodrigo Zalazar has been a huge hit at Braga since signing in 2023 (Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Zalazar has been subject to transfer speculation for several weeks following a brilliant season for the Warriors, with Benfica reported to be interested in bringing him to Lisbon, but instead he will play in the green and white of city rivals Sporting.

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder has scored 23 goals and provided 8 assists in 52 matches for Braga in 2025/26, making it by far the most productive season of his career.

Zalazar was born in Spain but has Uruguayan nationality, with both of his parents hailing from the South America country. His father José Zalazar was also a footballer, playing 29 times for the full Uruguay national team.

Rodrigo Zalazar began his senior career in Poland and Germany, with Braga paying just €6 million to Schalke 04 for his signature in the summer of 2023.

The purchase is likely to be the first of several made by Sporting this summer with a rebuild necessary, especially in midfield given the expected departure of captain Morten Hjulmand and Japanese teammate Hidemasa Morita, who has come to the end of his contract.

Travassos rewarded for impressive loan spells

While most Sporting fans will be excited by the capture of Zalazar, the sale of promising right-back Diogo Travassos is less consensual.

The Portugal U21 international enjoyed a fine debut season as a full professional for Estrela da Amadora last year, and has impressed even more at Moreirense this term.

An extremely attacking full-back, Travassos has scored 7 goals in 34 matches for Moreirense and is a big reason the modest northern club has enjoyed a fine season, free from any relegation worries.

Braga will pay five and half million euros for the 22-year-old, plus €1 million in potential add-ons.