Leonino exclusive: Sporting to send defender to Liga's fourth-placed side | OneFootball

Constança Maia is set to be loaned to Valadares Gaia, Leonino has learned. After making her debut for Sporting’s women’s team last season, a performance that earned her a professional contract in June, the defender is preparing to leave on loan in this transfer window, with the aim of gaining competitive rhythm and experience in Liga BPI.

and has already informed the Sporting hierarchy that it is interested in having the 18-year-old in its squad through a loan deal for the upcoming season.

This is a scenario that appeals to all parties involved in the agreement. Recent examples such as Carolina Santiago and Maísa Correia, who also had to seek other paths to develop away from Alcochete, are seen as positive signs for Constança Maia.

The young player sees this new possibility as a boost of confidence in her potential, an opportunity to get minutes, gain competitive maturity, and aims to return to Sporting better prepared to establish herself in the first team.

At Sporting’s youth levels since 2019/20, Constança Maia has gone through every stage until reaching the lionesses’ first team. With only four matches played in 2025/26, without any goals or assists, the loan move emerges as the next step.

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