Five signings that could lift FC Porto in 2026/27 | OneFootball

With more than a month still to go before the close of the summer transfer window, clubs still have time to strengthen their squads. Some are merely putting the finishing touches in place, while others are still searching for major-impact signings. FC Porto are, in a way, somewhere between those two scenarios.

The Dragons naturally have a squad with enough quality to try to defend the title won last season. Even so, it is also true that the gap over their rivals narrowed, both in points and in the football played and the statistics, so it will be important to have more options for the new campaign. In addition to the fight for back-to-back titles, FC Porto will also have the UEFA Champions League and the remaining domestic competitions ahead of them, all of which are naturally targets for Francesco Farioli’s team.

Looking at the squad carried over from last season, there are positions and areas that seem to require new options. In defence, the goalkeeping position — if Diogo Costa stays — and the centre are well covered, but the full-back positions need at least one signing. In midfield, Fofana’s departure left an important gap after the end of his spell in Porto, making a quality alternative necessary.

In attack, it is mainly the wingers that call for new players capable of making the difference. The striker position looks more stable with the arrival of André Silva, who joins Deniz Gul, while Samu has yet to return. Also considering the possibility of a Porto player being sold at any moment in the face of an irresistible offer, here are five names who could make the Dragons even stronger in 2026/27.

5.

Oswin Appollis – FC Porto need to strengthen the attacking flanks, as only William Gomes and Oskar Pietuszewski combine already proven performances with room for development and future quality. Pepê is approaching the downward phase of his career, Borja Sainz has not managed to establish himself as a fully reliable option, and youngsters such as André Miranda, Duarte Cunha and Tiago Andrade are still “green” options.

Oswin Appollis stood out in the last South African football season. After swapping Polokwane City for Orlando Pirates, he enjoyed the best campaign of his career so far, with 11 goals and nine assists in 37 matches. He was also called up by South Africa for the 2026 World Cup, a competition in which he featured in four games. He is 24 and can play on both wings, although he appears more often on the right.

He is a quick and explosive winger, strong in one-on-one situations and inclined to cut inside from the touchline, looking to create goalscoring chances. He could be an important weapon for unlocking balanced matches.

4.

Rodrigo Pinheiro – The full-back positions were one of FC Porto’s least consistent areas in 2025/26. Alberto Costa had a good season, but he did not maintain throughout the year the level he showed in the opening months. Martim Fernandes proved to be a regular and capable option on both sides, although without truly standing out. On the left, Francisco Moura does not enjoy much consensus among the fans and has been heavily criticised. Zaidu, meanwhile, has shown some physical inconsistency, although he remains a valid alternative and contributes positively to the group spirit. It is therefore an area in need of new solutions.

After splitting his youth development between Vitória SC and FC Porto, Rodrigo Pinheiro took a step forward at FC Famalicão. Last season, the right-back was one of the five Famalicão players who attracted the most attention, recording three goals and two assists in 29 matches. At 23, he could provide strong and healthy competition for Alberto Costa on the right, allowing Martim Fernandes to take on mainly the role of backup on the left, together with whichever player remains in the squad between Moura and Zaidu.

He is a competent footballer, with the physical availability to meet the team’s demands. He gives depth down the flank, crosses well, and has already shown the ability to press opponents and launch transitions. He is at a particularly suitable stage of his career to make the leap to a big club such as the national champions.

3.

Dário Osorio – Still on the subject of options for the wings, it would be interesting to add a different profile from the name mentioned earlier. Dário Osorio could offer precisely that kind of alternative.

Born in Chile, but competing in Denmark for the past three years, Osorio has grown noticeably over the last few seasons with Midtjylland, for whom he has 23 goals and 16 assists in 112 matches. He is 22, stands 1.84m tall, is left-footed, and mainly operates on the right side of the attack, although he can also play on the left.

He is a technically refined player and assured in his actions, with creativity and the ability to surprise, whether with his first or second touch. He performs the winger’s duties well, but also stands out between the lines thanks to his vision, ball carrying and shooting quality. He would be a highly significant addition to Porto’s attack and an opportunity that should not be ignored.

2.

Mathias de Amorim – Although midfield was one of the main strengths of the title-winning FC Porto side in 2025/26, there is room to introduce changes and refresh some options, so the area does not become predictable. Froholdt and Rosario should remain trusted figures at the Dragão, while the arrival of Hwang In-beom will add consistency to the defensive work. As such, the biggest question concerns strengthening the attacking side of midfield.

Taking into account the options used by Francesco Farioli last season and the system adopted by the team, there are players who seem to have more difficulty fitting in, such as Rodrigo Mora, Stephen Eustáquio and Vasco Sousa. João Teixeira and Tiago Silva remain secondary options, so a loan move or a transfer to another club could be beneficial. Even though they are important players, FC Porto should not turn down financially attractive offers for Alan Varela, Gabri Veiga or even Mora. Those departures would free up space in the squad and resources to find new solutions.

FC Famalicão’s project continues to produce players of great value for Portuguese football, and Mathias de Amorim is one of the best examples, showing extraordinary room for improvement. In 2025/26, he scored five goals and provided two assists in 33 matches. At 21, after beginning his development at Bordeaux and following two good seasons at Famalicão, the central midfielder would have a lot to offer Porto’s game. He can link the defensive and attacking phases, contributes quality in circulation, is competent off the ball and in pressing actions, and also knows how to control the tempo of the match according to what is needed.

With Froholdt given more freedom to take on attacking duties, Mathias de Amorim could be an ideal box-to-box midfielder, contributing defensively and in transitions while still appearing in the final third to assist or shoot. His signing would allow FC Porto to invest in the future of a Portuguese player and secure one of the midfielders with the greatest potential for the national team.

1.

Gustavo Sá – Following the same logic as the previous suggestion, this would be an equally strong, or even better, alternative. If several departures in Porto’s midfield are confirmed and more than one important player leaves the club, signing Gustavo Sá would become essential to rebuild the area.

At 21, and after three consistent and promising seasons at FC Famalicão, Gustavo Sá is one of the most exciting young players in Portuguese football. He is being tracked by several clubs, but FC Porto may still be able to get ahead of the competition and secure this “little lemon” while he is still full of juice.

He is a modern midfielder, capable of interpreting every phase of the game. He knows how to occupy spaces in the opposition midfield, offers quality in his passing — including the final ball — and has the ability to win back possession. In the attacking process, he stands out both for his contribution in build-up, through his vision and passing quality, and for the way he appears in decisive areas to finish moves, whether through a shot or an assist. He would, without a doubt, be the signing of the summer.

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