Portuguese giants Sporting CP have signed SC Braga defender Joao Pereira for a reported fee of €3 million. The 25-year-old full-back has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract at the Europa League hopefuls.

“This has caught me completely by surprise. I wanted to play for a bigger club than Braga. You can count on my commitment to Sporting; I will give my life for the club, fighting to the death for a win in every game,” stated Pereira to reporters.

João Pereira is Sporting’s second signing of the winter following the arrival of Mozambique central defender Mexer from GD Maputo last week. They are also in the market for an attacker.

Pereira previously played at Benfica and Gil Vicente before joining Braga in the summer of 2007.