Sponsored by. PORTUGUESE giants Boavista have celebrated the end of a two-year transfer ban by signing a staggering NINE players. The former Champions League club were unable to sign new talent due to debts to third parties. But they wasted no time in adding to their squad in this window. The Primeira Liga side completely revamped their squad, even adding a forgotten ex-Chelsea star to their ranks. The former Blues star joined the Premier League outfit for £8million in 2013 from Vitesse Arnhem.
![[Marco van Ginkel of Chelsea dribbling the ball.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/metlife-stadium-new-jersey-california-67771049_102267.jpg?strip=all&w=689)
A box-to-box midfielder, he was dubbed the 'next Frank Lampard' at the time of his signing. However, things didn't go to plan. Two months into the player's career at Stamford Bridge, the Dutchman suffered an ACL injury which forced him to miss the remainder of his debut season. The man in question is none other than Marco van Ginkel, who made just four appearances in eight years for the club. Van Ginkel would then go on loan four times, including spells at AC Milan, Stoke City, and PSV twice.
![[Marco van Ginkel of Vitesse during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/c385d688-8f14-47ac-8ff8-f1a1ece8b834.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The Eredivisie giants would snap him up in 2021, before he returned to Vitesse last season. But, he was released in the summer and has been without a club for six months. The now 32-year-old has the chance of reviving his career in Portugal. Last week, he was announced as one of nine players who will be joining the club. Other notable signings include ex-QPR defender Osman Kakay, and former Paris Saint-Germain left-back Layvin Kurzawa, who appeared 154 times for the French champions.
![[Marco van Ginkel of Boavista FC during a soccer match.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/marco-van-ginkel-boavista-fc-972076345.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Van Ginkel will be happy to be playing again, although he revealed his career was nearly cut short from that ACL injury when he suffered a rare infection. "Especially after the first week of infection, they didn't know what the infection was doing inside the joint. "After three months I reacted well, but it was going to be a tough, tough time to be at the top level again, to come back and play for PSV, Chelsea or whoever.
