QPR player set for Loftus Road exit | OneFootball

Hevertton Santos is seemingly departing QPR.

Queens Park Rangers' Hevertton Santos is heading back to Portugal to join up with Vitória de Guimarães.

This is according to Wednesday's print edition of A Bola, who understand that the defender has joined on loan with an option-to-buy.

Signed during the summer, Santos' move hasn't worked out, with the Brazilian accruing 317 minutes of league action across six matches.

His last match came in November against Leeds United, but it was the game prior that sealed his fate as he was run ragged by Middlesbrough's Ben Doak in a 4-1 defeat.

Despite signing on a free, this is a deal that Hoops fans will ultimately want to put behind them.

Hevertton Santos swapping Loftus Road for Portugal

As detailed in the aforementioned post, Santos is set to return on loan to Portugal, and it is Rui Borges' Vitoria S.C who are believed to have picked him up.

The Brazilian spent most of his youth career at Sporting Lisbon before moving on to C.F. Estrela da Amadora in 2022. The summer of 2024 saw him depart for a new venture at QPR, but just six months later he is departing Loftus Road.

Record, another Portuguese newspaper have reported that the option-to-buy fee is around the €2 million mark. This figure would represent a strong piece of business with the left-sided defender signing for the Hoops on a free.

The QPR board will likely be pleased with this outcome, as Santos' performances have fallen short of justifying such a significant fee.

Marti Cifuentes didn't need Santos

Looking at the outlook of Cifuentes' squad, this January was always going to provide an opportunity for them to offload Santos with suitable cover behind him.

Outside the Brazilian, the Spanish head coach had the options of Harrison Ashby and Jimmy Dunne, with the latter excelling in the right-back role in recent weeks.

This was going to make it difficult for the 23-year-old to break back in and his exclusion from the matchday squads suggested he was at the back of Cifuentes' mind.

Unsurprisingly, this sentiment was echoed by the supporters at Loftus Road, with Football League World's QPR fan pundit encouraging the defender to seek a move away during the January window.

Fortunately, this wish has been granted, and it’s unlikely many R’s fans would have expected the club to potentially secure a €2 million profit after his half-time substitution against Boro.

Nevertheless, those at the club will wish him well in his next venture in Portugal as he looks to put a woeful start to the 2024-25 season behind him.