Ex-Man United Star Smalling Joins FC Porto On Free Transfer

Former Manchester United defender Chris Smalling has completed a move to FC Porto on a free transfer, marking his return to European football.

Porto confirmed on Tuesday, September 30, that the 36-year-old English centre-back signed a deal until the end of the 2026/27 Primeira Liga season, with an option for a further year.

Smalling had been without a club since July 1, after his two-year contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Fayha expired. He made 67 appearances for the Saudi club after joining from Roma in 2024.

According to reports from Maisfutebol and Fabrizio Romano, Smalling arrived in Porto to undergo medical and fitness tests before finalizing the contract.

The move adds elite experience to Francesco Farioli’s squad. Porto currently sit top of the Primeira Liga with a perfect 21 points from seven matches, five clear of Benfica, but suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in their Champions League opener.

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Smalling brings a wealth of experience – two Premier League titles in a decade at Manchester United (323 appearances), Europa Conference League glory with Roma in 2022, and 31 England caps.

He becomes only the second Englishman to play for Porto after Norman Hall in the early 1900s.

Porto needed defensive reinforcement following injuries in the squad. Polish internationals Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior have been Farioli’s first choice, while Nehuen Perez returned from a long lay-off only to suffer a serious thigh injury in training, and Dominik Prpic has been playing with the B team.

Smalling’s arrival comes alongside that of Thiago Silva, another veteran free-agent signing for the Dragons this summer.

James Agberebi is a sports content creator and analyst with a passion for football and other sports. He writes sports news, match reports, and analysis to keep fans informed about the latest developments in the sporting world. James has covered international matches involving both Nigeria’s men’s and women’s national teams. His experience covering Nigerian football gives him a good understanding of the game and the teams he writes about. Through his work with Complete Sports, James shares sports updates, match coverage, and analysis with readers in Nigeria and around the world.