Veteran centre-back Chris Smalling has returned to European football by joining FC Porto on a free transfer, the Portuguese club confirmed on Tuesday, September 30.

The 36-year-old signed a contract running until the end of the 2026/27 Primeira Liga season, with an option to extend by a further year. His arrival follows reports from Maisfutebol and Fabrizio Romano that Smalling had traveled to Porto to complete medical and fitness assessments before putting pen to paper.

A decorated career across Europe

Smalling brings considerable pedigree to the Dragons. He made 323 appearances for Manchester United across a decade at Old Trafford, winning two Premier League titles, before moving to Roma, where he lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022. He also earned 31 caps for England.

The defender had been a free agent since July 1, when his two-year deal with Saudi Pro League club Al-Fayha expired. He had made 67 appearances for the Saudi side following his departure from Roma in 2024.

Smalling becomes only the second Englishman in history to represent Porto, after Norman Hall in the early 1900s.

Porto's defensive need

Porto arrive at this signing from a position of defensive necessity. Injuries have thinned manager Francesco Farioli's options at the back — Nehuen Perez returned from a long layoff only to sustain a serious thigh injury in training, while Dominik Prpic has been operating with the B team. Polish internationals Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior have shouldered the burden as first-choice centre-backs.

Despite those setbacks, Porto are flying in the Primeira Liga, sitting top of the table with 21 points from seven matches — five ahead of Benfica. On the continent, however, the club suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in their UEFA Champions League opener.

Smalling joins Thiago Silva as another high-profile free-agent addition to the Porto squad this summer, as Farioli bids to sustain a title challenge on multiple fronts.