Zach Muscat to make Portugal’s top-flight debut after extending Farense contract

Zach Muscat is set to embark on his biggest career challenge as he will be featuring in Portugal’s top-flight next season, gracing the fields of the likes of giants Porto, Benfica and Sporting Lisbon.

”First of all, I would like to thank President João Rodrigues and General Manager Zé Luís for making a boy’s dream come true. I promise to continue to give everything for this club…,” Muscat told the club’s website.

The former Olhanense and Casa Pia player joined Farense last season, helping them to return to the top-flight after their 2021/2022 relegation as they recorded the best defensive record of the Portuguese second-tier.

Farense finished second with Muscat playing 25 games in all competitions and finding the net four times, including on three occasions in the league – vs Moreirense (3-1), Oliveirense (2-1) and Feirense (2-1).

At Farense, he already faced elite clubs including Ruben Amorim’s Sporting in the domestic cup. He met the Lisbon-based the previous year as well while on the books of Casa Pia.

For Muscat, who is now in his fourth year in Portuguese football, this was his second straight promotion after being part of Casa Pia’s historic rise to the first-tier the previous year.

He becomes the third Malta international player to embark in Portugal’s top-flight following forwards Udo Nwoko (Leixoes, 2007-2009, 16 games/2 goals) and Andre Schembri (Boavista, 2016/2017, 32 games/4 goals).