Anderlecht Pursue Santi Garcia as Saliba Replacement
Anderlecht didn’t wait long to move on from the loss of Nathan Saliba. With the midfielder sold to Villarreal during the transfer window, the Belgian club have turned their attention to Portugal – and to one name in particular.
According to HLN, Anderlecht are exploring a move for Santi Garcia of Gil Vicente, a player whose stock has risen sharply over the past two seasons. Gil Vicente initially set the bar high, seeking a fee in excess of €10m. That stance has softened slightly, with the Portuguese club now said to be ready to negotiate below that figure, but the ambition remains the same: they want Garcia to become the most expensive sale in their history.
It would cap a rapid rise.
Garcia came through in Spain with Getafe, where he trained with the first team but was limited to just a single senior appearance. In 2024 he walked away from Spanish football, joining Gil Vicente on a free transfer – a low‑risk move that has turned into a major asset for the Portuguese side.
He settled immediately. In his first season, the midfielder featured 30 times, scoring four goals and providing two assists. Solid numbers, steady progress.
Then came the leap.
Last season, at 24, Garcia delivered what can fairly be called his breakout campaign: six goals and three assists across 34 games, driving his value up and drawing the attention of clubs like Anderlecht that need a dynamic presence in midfield.
Now the question is simple: will Anderlecht pay the price to make Garcia the centrepiece of their post-Saliba rebuild, or will Gil Vicente’s record sale stay on ice a little longer?
