Anderlecht Pursue Santi Garcia as Saliba Replacement

Anderlecht didn’t wait long to move on from the loss of Nathan Saliba to Villarreal. The Belgian club are already probing the market for a new midfielder – and their search has led them to Portugal.

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 north of €10m. That stance has softened slightly, with the Portuguese side now said to be open to a deal just below that figure, but their ambition remains clear: they want Garcia to become the most expensive outgoing transfer in the club’s history.

It would cap a rapid rise for the 24-year-old.

Garcia came through in Spain with Getafe, where he trained with the first team but only managed a single senior appearance. In 2024 he walked away from Spanish football, joining Gil Vicente on a free transfer – a low-key move at the time that has turned into a major success story.

He settled immediately. In his first season in Portugal, Garcia featured in 30 matches, scoring four goals and providing two assists. Solid numbers, steady progress.

Then came the real leap.

Last season, the midfielder delivered what can fairly be called a breakout campaign: six goals and three assists across 34 games, establishing himself as a regular and a key figure in Gil Vicente’s side.

Those performances have now pushed him onto Anderlecht’s radar. With Saliba gone and the midfield reshaped once again, the question in Brussels is simple: is Garcia the man they’re willing to break the bank for?