FC Porto fortify back line with the addition of former Southampton defender Jan Bednarek | OneFootball

FC Porto have taken a giant step towards fortifying their back line,  announcing the signing of veteran defender Jan Bednarek on Monday. The Polish centre-back comes over from Southampton FC after the two clubs reportedly agreed to a €7.5 million fee this week. Bednarek has signed a four-year deal and is contracted to the club through the 2028-29 campaign.

Porto president André Villas-Boas came in last year promising to build a squad capable of competing alongside Benfica and Sporting. The former Porto and Chelsea manager would have been delighted to secure a defender of Bednarek’s calibre, a move that is certainly a step in the right direction for the Dragons.

Since his transfer from Lech Poznań to Southampton back in 2017, Bednarek has amassed 184 Premier League appearances and a total of 258 games in England.

He has also established himself as a regular in the Polish national team, earning 69 caps and captaining his country on numerous occasions. The 29-year-old has competed at the highest level, representing Poland at the 2020 and 2024 European Cup, and the World Cup in 2018 and 2022. His most memorable moment came against Japan at the 2018 World Cup when he volleyed home a second-half strike that was enough to see Poland hold on for a 1-0 victory.

Bednarek is capable of coming up with the occasional goal or two, having scored 15 goals over his career, but his real value lies in his defensive abilities. The 6’2” centre-back is a towering figure in the back and has shown that he won’t be bullied by aggressive and forceful strikers. He can read the game at a high level, and his experience should be invaluable for a Porto defence that remains in search of a suitable replacement for legendary centre-back Pepe.

Porto conceded just 30 goals in the league last season, ranking third behind Sporting and Benfica, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. At vital stages of the season, the defence crumbled under the pressure. In the Europa League, they conceded three goals on three different occasions. Against rivals Benfica in the league, Porto fell to 4-1 defeats in the home and away fixtures.

Porto’s supporters will be hoping Bednarek’s presence can help to shore up a defence that remains in search of a leader. Bednarek provides experience, depth and quality to a side that is coming off their worst season in over a decade. The Northern Portuguese club finished third in the league last season for just the third time in 11 seasons (otherwise finishing first or second every year), and their points total of 71 was their lowest since the 2013-14 campaign.