Anderlecht Targets Santi Garcia as Saliba Replacement

Anderlecht’s response to losing Nathan Saliba to Villarreal is taking shape – and it may run through Portugal.

According to HLN, the Brussels club have set their sights on Santi Garcia of Gil Vicente as a potential replacement in midfield. Talks are at an exploratory stage, but the profile is clear: a dynamic, goal-threatening midfielder entering his prime.

Gil Vicente initially pushed for a fee north of €10m. That figure has reportedly softened, yet the Portuguese side still expect a club-record sale and want Garcia to become the most expensive outgoing transfer in their history. Any deal will not be cheap.

Garcia’s path has not been straightforward. Formed in Spain at Getafe, he broke into the first-team picture only briefly, making a single senior appearance before moving on. In 2024, he left Spanish football altogether, joining Gil Vicente on a free transfer.

That gamble has paid off.

The midfielder immediately nailed down a starting role, playing 30 games in his first season and contributing four goals and two assists. Last season he went up a level. In what was effectively his breakout campaign, the 24-year-old featured 34 times, scoring six goals and adding three assists as he became one of Gil Vicente’s key figures.

Those numbers, coupled with his age and upward curve, explain why Anderlecht have moved him high on their list. The Belgian side need a new engine in the middle after Saliba’s departure.

Now the question is simple: will Anderlecht push hard enough to meet Gil Vicente’s ambitions and bring Garcia to Brussels, or will another club step in and hijack what could become a record sale?