Official! Porto striker was on Benfica's radar, joins club in Italy | OneFootball

It’s official! Leonardo Fajardo, a 19-year-old striker who was on Benfica’s radar, is leaving Porto to continue his career in Italy. The centre-forward was officially announced by Lecce, the club where he will initially join the under-20 team.

The deal could earn the Dragons up to around €250,000, depending on the fulfillment of the objectives agreed between the parties. Porto will also be entitled to 35 percent of the capital gain from any future transfer of the player.

Léo Fajardolost his place in the blue-and-white side’s plans during the last season, despite being part of the team that won the National Under-19 Championship. The striker was, however, used sparingly, featuring in just nine youth matches, in which he scored five goals.

The young attacker had meanwhile attracted the interest of Benfica, who sought to understand the conditions needed to secure his signing. The Eagles saw the forward as an option with potential for the future, but the move to Luz ultimately did not materialize.

The striker was under contract until 2028, but he was not part of Francesco Farioli’s plans for the new season. Given the lack of space in Porto’s squad, the solution was to find a new project for the player. Lecce eventually made their move and secured the signing of the young centre-forward.

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