FCK sign Diogo Gonçalves
F.C. Copenhagen have signed offensive player Diogo Gonçalves from Portuguese side Benfica.
The 25-year-old Portuguese joins Copenhagen on an agreement for the next four years.
Gonçalves came through Benfica's academy and was promoted to the first team in 2017. He has also represented all Portuguese youth national teams from U15 to U21.
"Diogo has all the prerequisites to become a big figure at F.C. Copenhagen," says FCK sporting director Peter Christiansen.
"He has one of the best football educations you can get in Europe from Benfica, where he played in games at senior level including the UEFA Champions League.
"We have visited him in Lisbon and had really good conversations over a period of time with him, which have left a very positive impression of him as a person as well.
"He is a player of very high quality with great individual skills in the offensive part of his game, and he is also a strong team player who takes his share of the defensive work."
Neestrup: A quality player
The arrival of Gonçalves is a welcome reinforcement for head coach Jacob Neestrup.
"We have always said that we are very satisfied with our current squad, so only high quality is of interest to us," says the boss.
"We will get that with Diogo, who gives us more options, both in the short and long term.
"He has good relational skills, is strong with both feet and has a good football intelligence. He is good on both sides of the pitch, and he offers deep runs and combines well in small spaces.
"We have a really good impression of him from our face-to-face meetings, and now he just needs to settle down in Copenhagen, and then we have a good, long winter preseason to integrate him into our way of doing things. We look forward to getting started on that."
Gonçalves: FCK are a respected European club
Gonçalves himself is looking forward to coming to Copenhagen and Parken.
"I have had many good years at Benfica, but it was time for me for a new challenge," he says.
"Over the years, F.C. Copenhagen have earned their status as a respected club in Europe. They have presented the club's plans to me, and I have had a good and open dialogue with Jacob Neestrup and Peter Christiansen.
"It has given me the impression of a strong and ambitious club that wants to win titles and play with the best.
"I have seen a lot of videos of the team and the atmosphere that is especially in Parken. I look forward to experiencing this myself and being part of the team, which I will work hard for."
Everyone at F.C. Copenhagen would like to welcome Diogo to the club and the city.
Player facts
Name: Diogo António Copido Gonçalves
Born: 6 February 1997
Position: Offensive player
Former clubs: S.L. Benfica, Nottingham Forest, Futebol Clube de Famalicão.