PORTO, Portugal — Experienced Brazilian defender Thiago Silva has signed with Portuguese league leaders FC Porto for the remainder of the season.
He revealed his move on Porto’s X account on Saturday, shortly after his contract with Brazilian club Fluminense was terminated six months ahead of schedule.
– Fluminense ends Thiago Silva deal, impacting World Cup aspirations
In a video with subtitles, Silva expressed, “I’m super motivated. I hope I can help in the best way possible.”
Porto confirmed in a statement that he will be with the team until the season’s end, with the option to extend for another year.
The 41-year-old Silva played a crucial role for Fluminense, helping the team reach the semifinals of the Club World Cup in July.
With 113 caps for Brazil, he has participated in the last four World Cups and is reportedly aiming for a recall ahead of next summer’s tournament.
Earlier in the week, Silva noted that his contract with Fluminense was intended with the World Cup in mind as a way to conclude his career.
According to ESPN Brasil, his preference was to find a new club close to London to be near his family, especially his eldest son, Isago, who just signed his first professional contract with Chelsea.
Thiago Silva had a brief stint with Porto during the 2004-05 season but only in the second division.
He initially played for Fluminense before establishing himself as one of Europe’s top defenders with stints at AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea, where he won the Champions League in 2021.
This report includes information from The Associated Press.