FC Porto have made a historic structural move by retaining 11 of the most-used players from their title-winning squad, an unprecedented feat since the club's Sociedade Anónima Desportiva (SAD) was founded on 30 July 1997. The desire of president André Villas-Boas and coach Francesco Farioli to keep the core of the championship team intact has been underlined.
André Villas-Boas stated: "O FC Porto de André Villas-Boas acaba de escrever, salvo qualquer loucura de última hora, uma página inédita na história da Sociedade Anónima Desportiva." This continuity is seen as key for the ambition of winning back-to-back Primeira Liga titles, a declared goal after ending a four-year drought for the national championship. The team has started defending their crown in the best possible way, topping the standings with 12 points from four wins in four games, while keeping a clean sheet and scoring nine goals.
The retained core consists of goalkeeper Diogo Costa, defenders Froholdt, Bednarek, Pepê and Kiwior, midfielders Alan Varela, Pablo Rosario, Borja Sainz and Gabri Veiga, and forward William Gomes. These athletes accumulated the most minutes during the 2025/2026 campaign and form the foundation upon which Francesco Farioli intends to build the new season. The Italian coach actively pushed for this stability. Francesco Farioli pressured the president to ensure the main assets remained at the club.
This strategic decision allowed for a more focused transfer market approach. Porto's board sold players considered to be backup options to create space and resources for signings that fit Farioli's tactical demands. The new faces arriving at the Dragão are South Korean midfielder Inbeom Hwang, forwards André Silva and Santiago Giménez, full-back João Souza and young prospect Gabriel Mec.
The current sporting context is extremely positive. FC Porto not only won the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira in August against surprise package Torreense in Coimbra, but they also dominate the Primeira Liga. With a perfect record of four wins, the team has 12 points, has scored nine goals and conceded none, leading the table with a two-point advantage over Sporting CP.
The goal of competing for all domestic competitions is alive, with the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga on the horizon, alongside the major European stage of the Champions League. Financial efficiency was also demonstrated with the sale of striker Deniz Gul, which generated an immediate profit of five million euros, double his acquisition cost.
FC Porto's next official fixture is on 13 September, an away trip to face Casa Pia, a team currently in 18th place in the league. This match represents an opportunity to consolidate their lead before the international break. The team's full schedule is available on our fixtures tab.
Keeping this core of 11 players, something never seen in the 27-year history of the SAD, combined with targeted reinforcements and a formidable season start, places FC Porto in a strong position to aim for a repeat of last season's success. The team travels to Lisbon on the 13th for the match against Casa Pia.
