Farense signs 19-year-old João Gastão on loan from Estrela da Amadora, with option to buy

The move

Farense confirmed the arrival of 19-year-old forward João Gastão on Monday evening. The player joins on a one-season loan from Estrela da Amadora, with the Algarve club holding an option to buy at an undisclosed price. He is the ninth addition of the summer window, following the signings of goalkeeper Fabijan Buntic, defenders Gonçalo Silva and Zolotic, midfielders Mattheus Oliveira, Sarpreet Singh and Joseph Nduquidi, and fellow forwards João Resende and Gabriel Barbosa.

I am happy because, besides being a new challenge, it is a great team, a great club, a great name. I face it with a great will to win.

Manager José Faria, who previously worked with Gastão at Estrela da Amadora, is expected to integrate the youngster quickly.

Player background

Born in Angola and also holding Portuguese nationality, Gastão moved from Kabuscorp to Estrela da Amadora in 2024/25. He made 9 senior appearances for the tricolores, all during the first half of the 2025/26 season, before being loaned to Liga 3 side Belenenses. There he played 11 matches, scoring 2 goals and providing 2 assists. His time at Belenenses included a promotion play-off defeat to Farense, which he now joins in the second tier.

I am happy and ready for a great challenge, at a great club. I arrive with enormous desire to win and I hope to use my main attributes – speed, attacking depth and physical capacity – to help the team, promising to give everything with the Farense shirt.

Estrela da Amadora bid farewell with a short message, calling out his "commitment, professionalism and dedication" and ending with "Até já."

What he brings

Gastão describes himself as a quick, direct forward who thrives on runs behind the defence. His versatility across the front line gives Faria an extra option in a squad that has been heavily rebuilt after last season’s relegation to the II Liga. The loan includes a purchase clause, signalling that Farense sees the teenager as a potential long-term piece rather than a stop-gap.

Debut ahead

Farense starts its II Liga campaign on 9 August with a home match against Torreense, the current Taça de Portugal holders. The fixture will be the first opportunity for Gastão to pull on the shirt he has promised to wear with total commitment.