Chico Lamba officially announced as a new signing for Saint-Étienne

Arouca has officially confirmed the transfer of promising centre-back Chico Lamba to French club Saint-Étienne, marking one of the most high-profile exits in the club’s history.

The 21-year-old Portuguese U21 international was unveiled by the Ligue 1 side on Monday, shortly after a breakthrough summer in which he caught the attention of several European scouts with strong performances in the final phase of the UEFA U21 European Championship, held in Slovakia.

The deal is reported to be worth an initial €6 million but includes performance-related bonuses that could see the total rise to €8 million a substantial sum for a club of Arouca’s size and financial structure. In addition to the upfront fee, Arouca has secured 10% of any future sale, ensuring continued financial benefit should Lamba’s value continue to rise in France.

Saint-Étienne, newly promoted back to Ligue 1 after a season in the second tier, has been active in the transfer market, seeking to build a competitive squad capable of securing top-flight stability. Lamba is viewed as a key piece of their defensive rebuild a modern centre-back with strong physical attributes, composure on the ball, and experience in high-level youth international competitions. His signing reflects the club’s strategy to invest in young, high-potential talents who can grow into top players while increasing the club’s long-term asset base.

For Arouca, this is not just a financial win, but a statement of the club’s growing credibility in player development and talent scouting. Club president Carlos Pinho has overseen a transformative period at the club, helping establish a model that combines smart recruitment with opportunities for young players to develop and shine in the Primeira Liga. Chico Lamba’s success is further proof that Arouca has become an ideal launchpad for ambitious talents looking to reach higher levels.

Sporting CP, Lamba’s former club, also benefits significantly from the transfer. Having retained 50% of the rights to a future sale when Lamba joined Arouca, Sporting will receive at least €3 million from this deal, with potential for more if the conditional bonuses are activated. For Sporting, it’s another example of their strong player development strategy paying dividends, even when a player moves on at an early stage of his career.

Financially, this deal matches the previous second-largest sale in Arouca’s history Cristo’s transfer to Al-Sadd and is only surpassed by Rafa Mujica’s €10 million move to the same Qatari club in 2023. These growing figures reflect Arouca’s increasing presence in international markets and its ability to negotiate impactful deals despite being a relatively small club in the Portuguese football landscape.

In an official statement, Arouca praised Lamba for his dedication and professionalism during his time at the club: “We thank the player for all the commitment and dedication he showed on and off the pitch throughout last season, during which he made 26 appearances and scored one goal for the Lobos de Arouca.” The tone of the message was one of gratitude and pride, underscoring how valued Lamba was both as a player and as a person within the club.

With the centre-back now heading to France, Arouca’s attention shifts to reinforcing its defensive line. Head coach Vasco Seabra, known for his tactical discipline and trust in youth, will need to find a suitable replacement who can compete for a starting spot alongside José Fontán, Popovic, and Matías Rocha. The club has already begun its search for a new central defender, with the aim of maintaining a competitive squad capable of replicating last season’s overachievements.

Lamba’s departure is the latest chapter in Arouca’s remarkable evolution from lower-league obscurity to a respected name in Portuguese football. While his absence will be felt, the structure left behind is one that can continue to produce, attract, and launch footballing talent into Europe’s elite.