Goalkeeper Bolat swaps Standard for Porto
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
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Sinan Bolat, the only goalkeeper to have scored from open play in the UEFA Champions League, has left R. Standard de Liège to join FC Porto on a five-year contract.
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FC Porto have announced the acquisition of Turkish international goalkeeper Sinan Bolat.
Bolat, 24, has signed a five-year contract with the Dragons, meaning he will play professionally outside of Belgium for the first time. Formerly of KRC Genk, he had been at R. Standard de Liège since January 2009, though his contract expired this summer.
Bolat, capped six times by his country, made 94 league appearances for Standard. His finest hour, however, came in the 2009/10 UEFA Champions League group stage, when he became the first goalkeeper in the competition's history to score a goal from open play. His added-time header came on matchday six and secured his side a 1-1 draw against AZ Alkmaar.
Bolat's new employers will go straight into the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage, the draw for which takes place in Monaco on Thursday 29 August.
