Royal Antwerp FC has signed Spanish defender Álvaro Cortés from FC Barcelona. The 21-year-old has put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Bosuil. The club currently sits 10th in the Jupiler Pro League with seven points from five matches.
Álvaro Cortés arrives from FC Barcelona, where he joined the youth academy in 2021. He initially played for the U19s before featuring for Barça Atlètic. He was also loaned out to CF Damm for one season. He made his first-team debut for Barcelona in a match against Deportivo Alavés this past May.
The young Spaniard now leaves Catalonia for a new challenge in Belgium. He will bolster an Antwerp defence that has conceded ten goals so far this season. The complete squad for The Great Old is available to view online.
Last Saturday, Antwerp played away to Standard Liège in the Jupiler Pro League. Manager Marvin Compper set his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Standard Liège, coached by Vincent Euvrard, lined up in a 4-3-3. The match was played at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
The lineup provides insight into Compper's tactical choices. Antwerp has played its first five league games with mixed form: two wins, one draw, and two losses. The current standings show the club is eight points behind leaders Gent.
The signing of Cortés is an official reinforcement for the defence. His four-year contract indicates a long-term vision from the club. His arrival follows a period where Antwerp scored ten goals but also conceded ten, resulting in a goal difference of zero.
Antwerp's next challenge is an away fixture against Club Brugge, who are third in the table, on September 13. The details of this and other upcoming matches can be found on the fixtures page. Cortés is under contract until the summer of 2030.
