FORMER defender Jose Fonte has completed a move to join Primeira Liga side S.C Braga on a free transfer amid interest from Saints.

The 39 year old has been without a club since leaving French side Lille earlier this summer following the expiration of his contract.

The Daily Echo have previously reported that Fonte had expressed an interest in rejoining Saints, however, no official offer was made to the former captain.

Speaking upon completing his move to Braga, Fonte said: "I am very happy, excited and eager to help the club achieve its goals. 

"It is an immense pride to represent SC Braga, for its greatness, for the past, for the history that my brother [Rui Fonte] built here, I think it is a spectacular step in my career to represent a club of this dimension.

"I've always had an open mind to everything. I knew it was difficult to return to Portugal, but I never closed the door. 

"This year it made sense to return, from a family point of view it also allows my family to return to Portugal and we are very excited about that”.

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The move sees him return to his home country's domestic league for the first time since 2007.

A graduate of the Sporting's youth system, Fonte played for several Portuguese sides, including Benfica, before making a permeant switch to Crystal Palace in 2008.

He joined Southampton in 2010 and has since gone on to represent West Ham, Dalian Yifang and Lille – whom he captained to a French title in 2020-21.

Fonte played 288 times during his seven-year stint on the south coast and was a part of the club's rise from League One to the Premier League.