Anderlecht Pursue Santi Garcia as Saliba Replacement

Anderlecht moved Nathan Saliba on to Villarreal this summer. Now they need the next man in the middle.

According to HLN, the Belgian club have turned their attention to Santi Garcia, one of Gil Vicente’s standout performers in Portugal. The deal won’t come cheap. Gil Vicente initially pushed for a fee north of €10 million, but are now believed to be prepared to negotiate slightly below that mark. Even so, the Portuguese side want Garcia to become the most expensive sale in the club’s history.

It would cap a rapid rise.

Garcia came through in Spain with Getafe, but never truly broke into the first team, managing just a single senior appearance. In 2024 he walked away from Spanish football on a free transfer and headed to Gil Vicente, a move that has transformed his career.

He settled instantly. In his first season, the midfielder played 30 games, scoring four goals and adding two assists. Solid numbers, steady progress.

Then came the leap.

Last season, at 24, Garcia delivered a genuine breakout campaign: six goals, three assists, and 34 appearances as a regular driving force in midfield. That output, and his consistency, have put him firmly on Anderlecht’s radar as they look to rebuild the heart of their team after Saliba’s departure.

If the Belgian side decide to meet Gil Vicente’s demands, they won’t just be signing a replacement. They’ll be betting big on a midfielder whose career finally has real momentum.