Luxol player Sean Gatt has secured a dream move to Portuguese giants Boavista, the Times of Malta can reveal.
The 17-year-old is seen as one of the most talented prospects in Maltese football and for the past few weeks has been attracting interest from a number of overseas clubs.
In fact, last July English side Barnsley had invited Gatt to travel to the UK for a ten-day training camp with the club during which he played in an U-19 tournament.
Gatt impressed with his performances and was voted as the best player of his team in the tournament.
In the past few weeks, Gatt’s agent, Mauro Bousquet, offered the player to Portuguese side Boavista.
The Portuguese side are renowned to be one of the most successful clubs in Portugal with a strong tradition of nurturing young talent.
Negotiations moved quickly in the past few days and the player has now agreed a move to the Portuguese Primeira Liga club.
Gatt is the second Malta U-19 international to have secured a move abroad this summer after his international team-mate Lucas Caruana joined Serie A side Sampdoria.
Gatt’s transfer to Boavista further strengthens Luxol’s reputation of seeing their young talents secure a transfer abroad.
In fact, in the past few years, Luxol had five other players who pursued their career in a foreign league and went on to play in all national team categories as well as the senior selection.
Matthew Guillaumier, who spent 13 years at Luxol’s Youth Development Scheme and today is on the books of Ħamrun Spartans, spent last season on loan with Serie C side Siena.
Alex Satariano, another Luxol St Andrews product, joined Italian Serie B side Frosinone last summer and this season has agreed to join Virtus Verona on loan.
Goalkeeper Jake Galea has moved to Luxembourg at FC Etzella Ettelbréck while Kyrian Nwoko was on the books of Irish side St Patrick’s Athletic.
Matthias Veselji, who today is on the books of Floriana FC, had a spell in Serbia with OFK Belgrade.
Gatt has been part of Luxol for the past 13 years and has progressed from a ‘C’ standard student to the club’s Elite level.
