Fernandes heads to Lisbon

4 July 2012 03:52

Gelson Fernandes has signed with Sporting Lisbon after leaving Saint-Etienne on a free transfer.

The Switzerland international spent the second half of last season on loan at Udinese but has now opted to move to the Portuguese club on a four-year contract.

"I am delighted and I have to say thanks for the reception that I have received," Fernandes told his new club's official website.

"I was astonished by it. Sporting have a great history and are hungry for victories."

Fernandes, who was born in Cape Verde but has now been capped 37 times by Switzerland, joined Saint-Etienne from Manchester City in 2009.

However, the midfielder failed to settle in France and already had loan spells at Chievo and Leicester City before being farmed out to Udinese in the January transfer window.