Crystal Palace gives green light to Matheus França’s loan to Vasco; official announcement imminent
Brazilian midfielder returns home after struggling for minutes in England
Crystal Palace has approved the loan of attacking midfielder Matheus França to Vasco da Gama, with the official announcement expected in the coming days, according to ESPN. The agreement will run until June 2026, giving the 21-year-old a fresh chance to revive his career after limited opportunities in the Premier League.
Vasco Moves Quickly to Secure Reinforcement
França was informed by Palace’s management that he was no longer part of coach Oliver Glasner’s plans. Seeking reinforcements, Vasco moved swiftly to negotiate the loan. During his stay in Rio de Janeiro, the two clubs will share his wages. The player is expected to undergo medical tests and sign his contract shortly.
The deal had the approval of coach Fernando Diniz and was facilitated by former player Felipe, now an executive at Vasco. Cruzeiro also expressed interest but did not move fast enough to close the transfer.
Underwhelming Spell in England
Signed by Crystal Palace in 2023 for €20 million (R$104 million), França initially joined the U-21 squad before being promoted to the first team. However, his impact was minimal: 19 appearances, 1 goal, and 1 assist.
His last game came on May 25, featuring just one minute against Liverpool at Anfield. Over the entire season, he logged only 182 minutes in nine Premier League matches equivalent to a little over two full games.
Flamengo Youth Product and Record Sale
A Flamengo academy graduate, França made 53 appearances for the club, scoring nine goals and providing one assist before heading to Europe. His €20M transfer to Palace was Flamengo’s fifth-biggest sale, behind Gerson/Wesley (€25M), Reinier (€30M), Lucas Paquetá (€38M), and Vinícius Júnior (€45M).
