Portuguese club confirm raft of new signings - including forgotten ex-Chelsea & PSG players - after TWO-YEAR transfer ban is lifted

Boavista have wasted no time in reshaping its squad following the lifting of a two-year transfer ban, bringing in nine new players in a desperate attempt to salvage their season. One of the standout signings is Marco van Ginkel, the former Chelsea midfielder who is now 32 years old. The Dutchman arrives in Portugal hoping to revive his career after an impressive spell in the Eredivisie with Vitesse, where he contributed seven goals and two assists in 30 appearances during the 2023-24 season.

Another notable acquisition is Layvin Kurzawa, the former Paris Saint-Germain left-back, who brings a wealth of experience. Having made 154 appearances for the French giants, Kurzawa has barely featured in recent seasons, playing just eight minutes of competitive football since the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign. Boavista will be hoping the 32-year-old can rediscover his form and help stabilize their struggling defence. Boavista has also strengthened its goalkeeping department with the arrival of Tomas Vaclik, an experienced shot-stopper with stints at Sevilla, Olympiacos, and Huddersfield Town. Canada international Steven Vitoria has been signed, adding valuable experience at the heart of the defence.

Former Queens Park Rangers full-back Osman Kakay has also joined the club, bringing defensive versatility after 113 appearances at Loftus Road. Additionally, Cameroonian centre-back Sidoine Fogning and Ukrainian defender Vitalii Lystov, who played 62 times for Benfica ‘B’, have been signed to improve defensive depth.

To address their lack of firepower in attack, Boavista has acquired Moussa Kone, a forward with experience at Nîmes and FC Zurich. They have also brought in Gboly Ariyibi, a winger who previously trained with Leeds United and had a spell at Chesterfield. Adding to the sweeping changes, Boavista appointed Lito Vidigal as their new head coach on Monday. The 55-year-old is returning for his second stint at the Estádio do Bessa.

Despite these signings, Boavista remain in deep trouble in the Liga Portugal table. They currently sit in 18th place with just 12 points from 21 matches, six points away from safety and five points behind the relegation playoff spot. Their form has been abysmal, with six consecutive defeats and an 11-match winless run. They will be in action next against Estrela Amadora on Friday in their next league fixture.