Thiago Silva, now 41, has returned to European club football after signing for Porto until the end of the 2025-26 season. The Brazil defender joins the Primeira Liga leaders as a free agent after ending a second spell with Fluminense six months before the contract expiry.
The move follows links with a return to Chelsea and is widely viewed as a step to keep Silva in contention for the World Cup next summer. Porto, who currently hold a five-point advantage at the top of the league, add vast experience to a squad already leading the domestic race.
Silva could feature as early as Monday, when Porto face Alverca in the league as they try to extend that five-point cushion. The club sees the signing as immediate reinforcement in defence, while Silva gains
regular top-level competition ahead of a potential final World Cup campaign.
The veteran centre-back previously spent time with Porto in 2004-05, though only at reserve level. Silva played 14 matches for Porto B before leaving Portugal for Dynamo Moscow, beginning a long journey through European football that later included spells in Italy, France and England.
Across that career, Silva has collected 31 trophies, including one at Porto’s own Estadio do Dragao. In 2021, the defender lifted the Champions League there with Chelsea, a moment that added another major title to a record that already contained multiple domestic successes.
Between 2012 and 2020, Silva became a key figure for Paris Saint-Germain, where eight seasons brought regular league titles and deep runs in European competition. After leaving Paris, Silva made 155 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, further strengthening a reputation built on consistency and leadership.
Silva then returned to Brazil for a second spell with Fluminense. During that period, Silva captained the team at the Club World Cup over the summer, adding another high-profile international club tournament to the calendar before deciding to terminate the Fluminense contract early.
On confirming the Porto move, Silva addressed supporters and club staff directly. "I'm here to announce my return to the Dragons and to say how happy and flattered I am by this opportunity," Silva said. "I'm supermotivated. I hope I can help in the best way possible. I would like to thank our president, Andre Villas-Boas, for the opportunity and our coach, Francesco Farioli, as well, and say how eager I am to wear these colours again. I count on your support, and I hope to see you at the Dragao. "
Um ciclo que nunca foi fechado. Agora simDe volta ao FC Porto para ser feliz #SeguimosJuntos pic.twitter.com/arbtZuRsEPFC Porto (@FCPorto) December 20, 2025
Silva’s long journey through major clubs is shown below, highlighting the return to Porto after more than two decades away from the Dragao setup.
| Club | Period | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porto B | 2004-2005 | 14 appearances in reserve side |
| Dynamo Moscow | 2005 | First move after leaving Porto |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2012-2020 | Eight seasons, domestic success |
| Chelsea | 2020-2024 | 155 games, Champions League win at Dragao |
| Fluminense | Most recent spell | Club World Cup captaincy |
| Porto | 2025-2026 | Returns on contract to 2025-26 end |
For Porto, the signing brings a defender with vast European experience back to familiar surroundings at the Estadio do Dragao. For Silva, the agreement offers regular elite competition, emotional closure on an earlier Porto chapter and another chance to compete for trophies before the 2026 season finishes.
