Anderlecht did not wait long to react to the loss of Nathan Saliba. With the Canadian midfielder sold to Villarreal, the Brussels club have turned their attention to Portugal – and to one of the Primeira Liga’s most upwardly mobile midfielders.
According to HLN, Anderlecht are exploring a move for Santi Garcia of Gil Vicente, a player whose rise over the last two seasons has been as sharp as his passing. The Portuguese club initially aimed for a fee north of €10m, hoping to cash in at a record level. The stance has softened slightly, but the ambition has not: Gil Vicente still want Garcia to become the most expensive outgoing transfer in their history.
That tells you how they rate him.
Garcia’s path has not been a straight line. Formed in Spain and schooled at Getafe, he only managed a single first-team appearance there. One game, then the door closed. In 2024 he walked away from Spanish football on a free transfer, betting on himself and joining Gil Vicente with little fanfare.
He has not looked back.
In his first season in Portugal, Garcia became a fixture in the side, racking up 30 appearances with four goals and two assists. Solid numbers, but more importantly, a foundation. Last season he pushed on, turning consistency into influence: six goals and three assists in 34 games, a genuine breakout campaign for the 24-year-old.
Those figures explain why Anderlecht are circling. They have lost Saliba’s energy and presence in midfield and need a replacement who can step in quickly, carry the ball, and contribute in the final third. Garcia’s profile fits the brief: a midfielder in his mid‑20s, already a regular starter, with production that is trending upwards.
For Gil Vicente, this is the moment they have been working towards. They picked up Garcia for nothing. Two seasons later, they stand on the brink of a sale that could rewrite their record books. For Anderlecht, the question is simple: how far are they willing to go, and how much is a ready-made Saliba successor worth in a market that rarely forgives hesitation?
