FC Porto signs defender Maria Ines Nogueira until 2028. Maria Ines Nogueira has returned to Portugal and signed a contract with FC Porto until 2028. The club is strengthening its women's squad ahead of its debut in the top division. The defender will play for the first time in the BPI League.
FC Porto has announced the signing of 22-year-old defender Maria Inês Nogueira, who returns to Portugal after four years in the USA. The contract runs until 2028, and the player will make her debut in the BPI League for the club's women's team.
Nogueira began her career at Escola de Futebol do Belenenses before moving to Sporting, where she played first for the youth teams and then for the main squad. At 15, she made her debut in the Second Division, and just two months later scored her first professional goal. In the 2020/21 season, she helped the Lisbon club win promotion to the top division, after which she went to the USA, where she studied at NJIT and played for the NJIT Highlanders university team.
In America, Nogueira combined her studies in 'Management with Data Analysis and Information Systems' with football, playing 62 matches and scoring five goals over four seasons. In 2025, she was named to the Eastern Conference's symbolic team. In an interview, she noted that her experience in the USA enabled her to develop physical endurance and quick decision-making on the field.
The move to FC Porto was the fulfillment of a long-held dream for Nogueira — she emphasizes that she always wanted to play for a club that supports the development of women's football. She will wear the number 20 for the team and hopes to contribute to FC Porto's successful debut in the BPI League. Among her new teammates are former national team colleagues and players she met during her time at Sporting.
Nogueira describes herself as a fast and strong right-back who does not shy away from challenges and actively supports the attack. She emphasizes that she is ready to give her all on the field and fulfill the coaching staff's requirements. Among her top priorities is helping the team remain competitive in the new season.
Interest in the development of women's football in Portugal is growing, and FC Porto, like other leading clubs in the country, is actively building a squad to compete in the top division. A similar approach to team building was recently demonstrated by Burgos CF, where the core of the squad was formed by players from Navarre under the leadership of Ramis — more details can be found here.
For reference: women's football in Portugal has received significant momentum in recent years, and the participation of top clubs in the BPI League is boosting interest in the tournament and expanding opportunities for young players. FC Porto launched its women's team relatively recently, and the signing of players like Nogueira highlights the club's ambitions on the domestic stage.
