Liverpool added another star to the list of Primeira Liga imports to thrive after a transfer to the Premier League with the purchase of Luis Diaz from Porto in the January 2022 window.
Jurgen Klopp paid the Portuguese giants an initial £37.5m for the Colombian’s arrival, plus £12.5m in potential add-ons. The Reds jumped to secure his services in the winter market after Tottenham Hotspur had signed an agreement in principle with the Dragoes and Diaz.
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According to The Athletic, Spurs had their own deal in place with Porto for the same terms as Liverpool. Personal terms were also agreed with the 25-year-old, but his agent vetoed a move to north London as Jorge Mendes brokered talks with Tottenham – unlike the Reds.
Liverpool’s gain has firmly proven to be Tottenham’s loss with Diaz shining for Klopp since leaving Porto. The 35-cap dynamo has hit four goals and two assists over his first 17 games in all competitions, including one of each in their 4-0 rout at home to Manchester United.
But Diaz is not the only star to move from Portugal’s top-flight to England’s and impress. So, here are six other Primeira Liga imports to make a big splash in the Premier League.
Luis Boa Morte – Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal
Arsenal secured explosive pace and an eye for goal when Arsene Wenger signed Luis Boa Morte from Sporting Lisbon. The Leoes product arrived in north London in 1997 and went on to help the Gunners win a Premier League and FA Cup double during his debut season.
His time at Highbury did not prove to be that long with a move to Southampton to follow in 1999. The winger also enjoyed spells with Fulham and West Ham United over 14 years in England. He played 296 Premier League games, while scoring 29 and assisting 16 goals.
Boa Morte’s title with Arsenal also made the Lisbon-born ace the first Portuguese player to win the Premier League. Tiago Mendes, Ricardo Carvalho, Paulo Ferreira, Deco, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nani, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo have since joined the rare list.
Bruno Fernandes – Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes set a more recent example for Diaz to follow with a £47m, up to £67.5m, transfer from Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United in January 2020. The Portuguese was an instant hit at Old Trafford, and made Premier League history within his first year there.
He became the first player to win the division’s Player of the Month award four times in a calendar year. Fernandes clinched the honour in February, June, November and December 2020 after becoming an instrumental presence in the Red Devils engine room from the off.
Ederson – Benfica to Manchester City
Within just 15 months of breaking into the Benfica first-team, Manchester City paid £35m to make Ederson their new goalkeeper. The Brazilian is now one of the Premier League’s and European football’s absolute best shot-stoppers as a playmaker between the sticks.
His passing is on a level some midfield maestros look to reach, is ice cool and is also a great shot-stopper. So much so that despite the millions City have spent on defenders over the years, he remains a vital presence in their success in a role not always required as often.
Ruben Dias – Benfica to Manchester City
Ruben Dias certainly made Ederson’s life in the Manchester City net easier after his £65m transfer from Benfica in 2020. The Portuguese enforcer brought calm to what had been a rather chaotic Etihad Stadium backline, and rapidly reaped the rewards he richly merited.
The Premier League, Football Writers’ Association and Manchester City named the centre-half as their Player of the Season for the 2020/21 campaign. He also made the PFA Team of the Year and was a contender for the PFA’s Players’ Player of the Year that season, as well.
Nani – Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United
Nani offered Manchester United a threat on either wing, and was touted as Ronaldo’s heir after moving to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in 2007. The winger played 230 games in all for the Red Devils, in which he scored 41 goals and laid on 73 assists in all competitions.
His pace and skill could torment any defender on his day, although consistency issues held him from his full potential. Yet Nani still made the 2010/11 PFA Team of the Year and won four Premier League and a Champions League title. He also helped Portugal win Euro 2016.
Cristiano Ronaldo – Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United
Ronaldo joined Manchester United as an 18-year-old wonder in August 2003 in a £12.25m deal with Sporting Lisbon. He instantly received their coveted No.7 jersey David Beckham had previously worn, and became the first Portuguese player to join the Red Devils.
His first spell at Old Trafford lasted six years before joining Real Madrid for a then-world record £80m in 2009. In that time, the forward lifted three Premier League crowns, an FA Cup, two EFL Cups, the 2007/08 Champions League and won the 2008 Ballon d’Or award.
No Premier League star won the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001 before the first of Ronaldo’s five. Boa Morte is also the only Portuguese to play more Premier League games than Ronaldo (222), who has the most goals (99) and second-most assists (48) to Nani (56).
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