Only Two of Portugal's Ten Most Expensive Summer Signings Are Justifying Their Price Tags
Portugal's top-flight clubs shattered transfer records this summer, but nearly a month into the new season, the returns on those investments remain stubbornly thin. Of the ten most expensive arrivals in the I Liga, only two — Sergi Altimira and João Palhinha — have established themselves as undisputed starters and consistent performers.
The summer window, which closed on 4 September 2026, saw Sporting CP, Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting de Braga spend heavily. Sporting alone committed more than €100M to new players. For supporters used to seeing big money translate quickly into results, the wait for impact is becoming uneasy.
The successes: Midfield anchors delivering value
Sergi Altimira arrived at Sporting from Real Betis for €18M. Tasked with replacing former captain Morten Hjulmand, the Spanish midfielder moved into the starting eleven almost immediately. After ten league matches, he holds a FotMob rating of 7.99 — among the highest in his position. His passing accuracy and positional discipline have made him an undisputed starter in Rui Borges's midfield.
At Benfica, João Palhinha's €14M return from Bayern Munich has been the standout success. The 31-year-old defensive midfielder, who spent the 2025/26 season on loan at Tottenham, has slotted seamlessly into Marco Silva's tactical system. He has secured an absolute starting place and has already been rewarded by Portugal coach Jorge Jesus with a recall to the national team. For a fee equivalent to roughly seven months of the average Portuguese player's salary, Palhinha's influence has been immediate and measurable.
The struggles: High-cost signings still searching for form
Sporting's record internal transfer — Rodrigo Zalazar, signed from SC Braga for €30M — arrived after a career-best season of 23 goals and eight assists in 43 games. The Uruguayan began the campaign with a goal and an assist against Estrela da Amadora, earning man-of-the-match honours, but his performances have dipped since. Coach Rui Borges has attributed the dip to "growing pains" within a younger, restructured squad, while statistics show just one goal and one assist in his first five to seven appearances.
The story is similar for Issa Doumbia, brought in from Venezia for €20.5M. Seen as a replacement for the more cerebral Hidemasa Morita, the Ivorian midfielder has struggled to adapt. He has logged one assist in 578 minutes, with an 89.3% passing accuracy. Borges has experimented by moving Doumbia closer to Altimira in a bid to balance defensive responsibilities and unlock his capacity to drive forward — an adjustment that showed promise against Rio Ave.
Ibrahima Ba's €21.25M move from Famalicão has been hampered by injury. The Malian defender arrived recovering from meniscus surgery and, after a promising debut against Alverca, suffered a relapse that has kept him from building momentum.
Early promise and late bloomers
Benfica's defensive recruitment reflects a season of transition. With Nicolás Otamendi and António Silva gone, the club signed Alessandro Circati from Parma for €18M. Clément Lenglet and Tomás Araújo have taken the starting places, leaving Circati to show only glimpses of his potential — still too little to justify such an outlay.
In attack, Jakub Kaminski joined Benfica from Cologne for €17M. A poor debut in a 2-1 loss to St. Gallen raised questions, but the Polish winger has begun to settle. He turned heads last week with the goal that sealed a 2-0 victory over AC Milan, a sign that patience may yet pay off.
At Sporting, Nestory Irankunda signed from Watford for €15M. Expected to claim the left wing, he has appeared five times from the bench, offering little to threaten the starting spots of younger alternatives Flávio Gonçalves and Jesse Derry.
Long-term bets: Young signings yet to play
Two of the summer's most expensive recruits have yet to register a single minute. Gabriel Mec, 18, joined FC Porto from Grêmio for €11M (rising to €12M). The Brazilian, known for his ability to play on either flank, trained with his new teammates on 3 September and has been undergoing intensive tactical work under coach Francesco Farioli.
Tommy Marqués, 19, moved from Barcelona to Braga for €11M (also rising to €12M). The Spanish defensive midfielder, who left Barcelona because he needed a path to regular football, has played just 79 minutes across four matches. His compatriot coach Carlos Vicens knows him well, but Marqués is still fighting for his opportunity.
What changes for supporters
For fans of Portugal's "big three," the early verdict is mixed. Clubs have committed unprecedented sums — Sporting's €30M for Zalazar remains a domestic record — but only Altimira and Palhinha have delivered consistent returns. The remainder are either injured, adapting, or waiting.
The coming weeks will test whether patience is enough. Some, like Kaminski, are beginning to show signs of life. Others, like Ba and Irankunda, remain question marks. For now, the message to supporters is simple: the money has been spent, but the dividends are still coming.
