Final piece for Rui Borges: Sporting close to sealing 4M deal | OneFootball

Moncef Zekri is getting closer and closer to joining Sporting. The 17-year-old left-back, currently at Mechelen, has emerged as the solution chosen by the Lions to fill the final spot planned in Rui Borges’ squad.

The process has gained momentum in recent hours and is underway with the Belgian club, at a time when PSV Eindhoven have also been linked with the youngster.

If the transfer goes through, Zekri will be the ninth signing for the green and whites for 2026/27 and is expected to sign a contract valid for five seasons, until June 2031. After this arrival, the squad will be complete, barring any unexpected departures.

The signing answers the need created by Ricardo Mangas’ move to Monza. Maxi Araújo renewed his contract until 2030 and remains the main option at left-back, but Sporting want Zekri as an immediate alternative while also preparing him to take on a bigger role in the future.

A youth international for Morocco, Moncef Zekri was crowned African under-17 champion in 2025 and already has experience with Mechelen’s first team. Ajax and Bayer Leverkusen have also been keeping an eye on the player, but Sporting are now in a strong position to secure one of the most promising full-backs to come through Belgian football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.