André Villas-Boas backs Kiwior and resists Barcelona interest | OneFootball

The decision has been made. According to this Friday’s edition of newspaper A Bola, FC Porto will do everything in its power to keep Jakub Kiwior in the squad under Italian coach Francesco Farioli, despite interest from some of the biggest clubs in European football, such as Barcelona.

The Polish international, it should be remembered, arrived at the Estádio do Dragão nearly a year ago from Arsenal on a one-season loan, in exchange for a fee of around two million euros, but it soon became clear that the goal was indeed to tie him down on a permanent basis.

The 26-year-old formed, together with compatriot Jan Bednarek, an almost impenetrable defensive partnership, having been one of the main reasons the dragons were the team that conceded the fewest goals in the entire 2025/26 Primeira Liga campaign (just 18 in 34 matchdays).

Overall, he featured in 39 of the 53 official matches played by the blue-and-white club last season, across all competitions, so the board led by André Villas-Boas did not hesitate to trigger the purchase option clause included in the agreement, set at 17 million euros.

The deal also includes a series of bonuses that could reach five million euros, meaning that, in total, he could end up costing the coffers of the new national champions 24 million euros. The Gunners, meanwhile, retained the right to receive two million euros in the event of a future sale.

The Tychy-born footballer, meanwhile, signed a contract valid until June 2030, which includes a release clause worth 70 million euros. One of the highest in the entire Porto universe, reflecting the importance he is given within the sporting project that has since been mapped out.

Amid the clear-out, FC Porto already have their first signing secured

Besides the Jakub Kiwior case, FC Porto have several other matters in hand, many of them already settled, especially regarding the departure of players who, for various reasons, failed to earn a permanent place in Francesco Farioli’s plans.

That was the case with Thiago Silva, Luuk de Jong (whose contracts expired), Seko Fofana and Terem Moffi (who were returned to Rennes and Nice, respectively, after their loans). In the meantime, Auxerre secured survival in Ligue 1 and activated the automatic purchase clause included in Danny Namaso’s loan deal, worth five million euros.

Going the other way, all indications are that the official announcement of André Silva’s return to the Estádio do Dragão could come in the next few hours. As reported by Desporto ao Minuto, the Portugal international is already in Portugal after a holiday in Japan and will sign on a free transfer following the end of his contract with Elche.

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