Thrilled Vitória goes to Benfica
Monday, June 17, 2013
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"This is the most important and happiest day of my life," said Steven Vitória after the penalty-taking centre-back completed his move from GD Estoril-Praia to SL Benfica.
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UEFA Champions League contenders SL Benfica have continued to strengthen their squad for next season by signing centre-back Steven Vitória from GD Estoril-Praia.
The towering 1.95m-tall defender, 26, has agreed a four-year contract with the Eagles after helping Estoril qualify for Europe for the first time with a fifth-placed Liga finish. His arrival in Lisbon follows that of Serbian international trio Filip Djuričić, Miralem Sulejmani and Lazar Marković.
"This is the most important and happiest day of my life," said Canadian-born Vitória. "It's playing at the highest level. It is with great pleasure that I take this step in my career. I will work hard to be ready to play Champions League football – I'm living a dream."
The former SC Olhanense loanee left FC Porto in 2010/11, without having made his debut, joining Estoril. Vitória scored 11 goals in 27 league matches last term for Estoril, nine of them penalties. Benfica, whose stadium hosts the 2014 UEFA Champions League final, will start their campaign in the group stage of the elite competition, while Estoril enter the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round.
