FC Porto have signed Colombian striker Jackson Martinez, paying Mexican club Jaguares just under nine million euros for his services. The 25-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year contract, which includes a release clause of €40 million.

After several weeks of speculation the transfer is now official, pending the medical tests. Martinez described it as “the opportunity I have been waiting for and which I consider a huge blessing.”

The forward added that he had sought advice from compatriot Radamel Falcao about FC Porto, who had given him “the highest recommendations about the city and the club.”

If Martinez can make a similar impact to El Tigre at the Estádio do Dragão, he will soon become a big favourite among Porto fans.

Former Colombia national team manager, Leonel Álvarez, who worked with both Falcao and Martinez, believes Porto’s new signing will do just that. 

“I believe Jackson will score as many goals as Falcao did at Porto,” he said. “Of course, it will depend on the players he has around him, but if he has the same conditions as Falcao I’m certain he’ll enjoy the same amount of success.

“They are two players with completely different assets, but in one aspect they are exactly the same - they both score lots of goals,” Álvarez told Portuguese sports daily O Jogo.

by Tom Kundert