Goalkeeper Malcolm Barcola, elder brother of Bradley Barcola currently competing in the Euro with the French team, has signed with Paços de Ferreira. The 25-year-old Togolese international inked the deal on Tuesday with the club, which finished fifth in the Portuguese second division last season.
With 21 caps for Togo’s national team, Barcola expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his career.
“I am very happy to be here and my family is also very happy to be here with me.
My wish now is to have a good season,” he said after signing the contract.
Barcola’s journey to this new opportunity comes after a challenging year without a club.
His last stint was with FC Tuzla City in Bosnia-Herzegovina during the 2022-2023 season, where he had an inconsistent presence, making only 11 appearances.
This period of uncertainty made the recent signing with Paços de Ferreira even more significant for the goalkeeper, potentially reopening doors for his return to the national team after a year-long absence.
Like his brother Bradley, Malcolm Barcola was trained at Olympique Lyonnais. However, unlike his sibling, he did not break into the first team despite signing his first professional contract in February 2019.
Standing at 1.95 meters, Barcola spent most of his time with Lyon’s reserve team, making 29 appearances in National 2, France’s fourth tier, between 2018 and 2022.
Paços de Ferreira’s signing of Barcola marks their second acquisition of the transfer window, following the addition of left-back Rui Pedro.
The Portuguese club, located in the north of the country, is looking to strengthen its squad as it aims for promotion to the top tier.
Barcola’s move to Paços de Ferreira is a pivotal moment in his career, offering him the chance to re-establish himself after a difficult year.
The goalkeeper’s presence is expected to bolster the team’s defensive capabilities, and his experience at the international level could prove invaluable as the club strives for success in the upcoming season.
For Barcola, this new opportunity is not just a professional milestone but also a personal triumph. Having endured a year without regular football, his determination and resilience have finally paid off.
As he embarks on this new journey with Paços de Ferreira, there is renewed hope and anticipation for what lies ahead, both for his club career and his potential return to the national team.
This signing represents a fresh start for Malcolm Barcola and a significant step forward for Paços de Ferreira as they prepare for the challenges of the new season.
🗣 “𝑂 𝑚𝑒𝑢 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑗𝑜 𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑎 𝑒́ 𝑓𝑎𝑧𝑒𝑟 𝑢𝑚𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒 𝑒́𝑝𝑜𝑐𝑎.”
Bem-vindo ao FC Paços de Ferreira, 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗺 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮! 🟡🟢
🗞 : https://t.co/T61bOsq0ke#DefendeOAmarelo #FCPF2425 pic.twitter.com/pe8WgM4nz8— FC Paços de Ferreira (@fcpf) July 2, 2024
