‘I came Here to Win Trophies,’ Mbemba Delighted with Porto Switch

Congolese defender Chancel Mbemba is delighted with his switch to Porto hoping change of scenery will give him a chance to fight for first team opportunities.

The versatile defender joined Porto for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal which will keep him with the Portuguese giants until the summer of 2022.

The 23-year-old joined Newcastle from Anderlecht for a reported £8 million and had a successful spell with the side until the arrival of Rafa Benitez.

In his first season, Mbemba played 33 Premier League games as the side were relegated but made only 21 appearances in the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons combined.

Under Benitez, the defender failed to earn a first team spot and was gradually forced to the side-lines, something that prompted him to look for a fresh challenge.

“I came here to win titles, but first and foremost I will continue to work to win,” he revealed in an interview with Porto’s official website.

“Everyone knows Porto is a great club. So I have to work to earn my place and I will give everything I have to show what I can do for everyone.”

The Kinshasa-born hopes the switch to Portugal will help him get his once promising career back on track and is desperate to get started with Sergio Conceica’s men.

His final fee is believed to be around the £5million mark which Newcastle are planning to use to activate the £3million buyout clause of Deportivo La Coruna’s Favian Schar.

Mbemba will link up with the first team for the pre-season tour and could get a chance to face his former side Newcastle in a friendly when the two meet at the Estadio do Dragao on Saturday.

 (Images from FC Porto Twitter.