Norwich City: Ex-Benfica defender Guilherme Montoia transfer

Norwich City have completed the signing of left back Guilherme Montoia after his Benfica exit.

The 19-year-old defender has signed a two year deal, with a further one year club option, and is scheduled for his first outing as part of the club’s development squad in Monday night’s Premier League Two away game at Sunderland.

Montoia reportedly turned down the offer of a new contract at the Estadio da Luz in favour of a move to Norfolk to initially be part of Alan Neilson’s group.

Norwich have made a series of summer signings for their development set-up including Vicente Reyes, Kellen Fisher, Gabe Forsyth and, most recently, Emmanuel Adegboyega who signed from Irish side Drogheda United.

Fisher and Reyes were part of David Wagner’s pre-season plans, and have been handed first team squad numbers for the new Championship season.

 

Portugal under-20 international Montoia made 29 appearances for Benfica’s youth side last season – scoring twice – and also featured in the Uefa Youth League.

“I feel very good (to sign for the club), it’s a historical club, a big club, so I’m very excited,” he told City’s official site.

“It is a club used to being in the Premier League with amazing fans.

“It’s very important to know that you can reach your goal of getting into the first-team, so this is very important for me to know that. I come with some expecttions but I just want to play football, enjoy it, and the rest will come.

 

“I am a full back with a lot of stamina, good at crossing, I like to shoot at goal. I spent 13 years with Benfica. I feel really blessed I spent time with incredible coaches, staff and players. Thankful to them. Of course it will be challenging to come to a new country but everyone has been very welcoming.”

Lisbon-born Montoia spent 13 years with Benfica, having progressed through the ranks after joining from GD Coruchense in 2010/11. He signed his first professional deal with the club back in 2020, aged just 16.

Dimi Giannoulis, who has entered the final 12 months of his current deal at Carrow Road, and Sam McCallum are Wagner’s senior left back options