From Ronaldo to Dzekelès, why are the Premier League so obsessed with Portuguese League players?

Arsenal Football Club is about to sign Portugal Sports' popular striker Victor Djekelais for 85 million euros. This heavy transfer once again proves the decades-long close connection between the Premier League and Portuguese football. From Cristiano Ronaldo (C Ronaldo) to the current Tsekires, Premier League giants have continuously tapped potential stars from the Portuguese top league, which not only changed the pattern of the Portuguese Super League, but also brought many important players to the Premier League.

Zhekelais joins Arsenal: Opening a new chapter

The 27-year-old Swedish striker performed outstandingly in the just-concluded 2024/25 season, scoring 41 goals for Portugal Sports in various competitions, with an amazing efficiency. His arrival will make him one of the most valuable players to transfer from the Portuguese League to the Premier League this summer.

Zhekelais is highly expected to play a key role in Arteta's tactical system, and his joining also carries the expectation that players from Portugal have failed to fully realize their potential.

If anyone ignited the Premier League's interest in Portuguese players, it was undoubtedly Ronaldo.

In 2003, the 18-year-old Ronaldo transferred from Portuguese sports to Manchester United for £12.24 million and quickly grew into a world-class star, completely changing the views and interest of Premier League clubs in the Portuguese League.

Inspired by Ronaldo's success, Manchester United has introduced players from the Portuguese League many times, such as Nani, Bruno Fernandez, etc. However, not all trades are done as they wish, and some players are not at the expected level.

Portugal League: The "talent delivery base" of the Premier League

The reason why the Portuguese top league has become an important source of talent for Premier League clubs is the following main reasons:

High cost-effectiveness: Portuguese players are young, skilled and have strong adaptability.

The youth training system is perfect: clubs such as Benfica, Porto, and Portuguese Sports have top youth training camps in Europe.

Language and culture are close: Portuguese players are more likely to integrate into the life and rhythm of the game in English-speaking countries.

Premier League teams such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea are actively participating in the activities of introducing players from the Portuguese League. For example, Manchester City strengthened its defense by introducing players such as Ruben Dias and Ederson.

Wolves are one of the most closely related clubs to Portuguese football. Fosun International and agent Jorge Mendes' collaboration has enabled Wolves to attract several Portuguese players to join.

Although the Premier League has brought income to Portuguese clubs, it has also brought some challenges, such as the problem of decline in competitiveness and the problem of incompetence. However, this partnership generally maintains a delicate balance.

As more young talents emerge in the Portuguese league, the Premier League's dependence on this "gold mine" may further deepen.