FC Porto plans for future with Froholdt, Granaas and eyes Caleb Yirenkyi | OneFootball

FC Porto went through several years of uncertainty, which ultimately came to an end with the conquest of the Primeira Liga last season. The last year was a successful one for the dragons, who returned to the top of Portuguese football, and the intention is clear: not to let that status slip away.

That is why André Villas-Boas is trying to secure all the “weapons” so that Francesco Farioli can once again lead the team toward titles.

The dragons’ president has shown considerable skill in the deals he has completed, especially in 2025/26, with investments that have already delivered sporting returns in a short space of time.

This is the case with Victor Froholdt, a name that is emerging as a sure thing in Porto’s midfield for the season ahead. The Danish midfielder arrived in the Invicta city at the start of 2025/26 from Copenhagen for 20 million euros, and he quickly became a key piece in the blue-and-white side’s play.

Unknown to many, the 20-year-old impressed and is already being seen as a serious prospect for the future of the Dragão’s midfield. Ultimately, it is only natural that André Villas-Boas intends to build a young team with room for development, but one that also offers guarantees for FC Porto to win in the present.

This balancing act may not be simple, not least because youth does not always guarantee maturity and sharpness on the biggest stages. Even so, the dragons’ signings appear to be surgical, and the coming years promise to feature young players leading the engine room.

One signing already confirmed and another on the way?

That idea can easily be supported by the dragons’ activity in this summer’s transfer market. In other words, with Victor Froholdt already in Porto’s midfield, another player has also arrived who fits into the future-oriented project.

This is the case of Eirik Granaas, who at just 16 is seen as one of the gems of Norwegian football. His signing was quite affordable, at just 2.5 million euros, and it is essentially an investment for the coming years.

This is because the midfielder is still very young, to the point that he signed a contract only until 2029, the maximum allowed for an underage player. Endowed with unusual technique and a great ability to carry the ball in attacking moments, Eirik Granaas has managed to impress Francesco Farioli.

The youngster will begin training with the B team, but he will remain in contact with FC Porto’s first team, so his integration will depend on the performances and adaptation he shows in Liga II.

But the Norwegian is not a unique case and, interestingly, the Nordic market is once again André Villas-Boas’ preferred hunting ground. Caleb Yirenkyi is FC Porto’s next priority, although an agreement may be difficult to reach.

At issue are Nordsjaelland’s financial demands, as they will only be willing to let the Ghanaian midfielder leave for a fee of at least 30 million euros. That amount is considered high by FC Porto’s SAD, especially because it could increase if the 18-year-old boosts his market value with an appearance at the 2026 World Cup.

These are three names who could make up FC Porto’s midfield in the future, without forgetting Gabri Veiga, who is only 24 and has been establishing himself among the dragons, the same age as Alan Varela.

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