Former Man Utd defender Smalling signs for Porto

Chris Smalling smilesImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Chris Smalling has played his club football outside of England since 2020

By
Chief football news reporter
  • Published

Former Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling has signed for Portuguese league leaders Porto.

He has been without a club since leaving Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Fayha in the summer.

The 36-year-old was linked with a move to Rangers but that did not materialise.

Smalling has signed a contract until the end of the season with Porto, with the option for a further year.

Porto have won all seven league games this season and already have a five-point advantage over second-placed Benfica.

Francesco Farioli's side were beaten at home by Manchester City in their opening Champions League game.

Smalling was keen to extend a 19-year professional career that began at non-league Maidstone, with the centre-back going on to play for Fulham, Manchester United - where he won five major trophies, including two Premier League titles - and Roma, where he won the Uefa Conference League under Jose Mourinho in 2022.

He also won 31 England caps.