Official! Santos signs new Sporting deal, agrees with Varandas | OneFootball

It’s official. Maria Inês Santos has signed a training contract with Frederico Varandas and has therefore extended her link with Sporting, where she has played since the 2020/21 season. The young midfielder, just 15 years old, represented the U17 team this season and said she was happy to continue her path of growth wearing the lion on her chest.

Speaking to the club’s official media, the player highlighted the importance of the moment: "It’s indescribable to represent this Club and wear this shirt. It’s up to me to work harder and harder on the pitch to repay the faith shown in me", she stressed.

In the 2025/26 season, Maria Inês Santos played 26 matches and scored 20 goals for the youth team, numbers that reflect the progress of the young Portuguese international. The athlete acknowledged that competing in a higher age group was an important challenge in her development: "It has been a very good and enriching journey for me. It has been incredible work, and I’ve really enjoyed it".

The footballer also spoke about the responsibility of wearing the captain’s armband, saying she feels comfortable in that role within the team: "I believe I have a leader’s personality", she explained, adding that she enjoys the added responsibility of helping her teammates and setting an example on the pitch.

Maria Inês Santos (who is going through a turbulent period): "She is a player I like very much. I’d also like to reach the first team, and that’s what I work for every day", she concluded.

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