Nelson Diogo Balde Sanca (born 10 October 2006) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a central defender for EFL League Two club Newport County.[3]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nelson Diogo Balde Sanca[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 10 October 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Newport County | ||
| Number | 31 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2023 | Canton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2023– | Newport County | 4 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Briton Ferry Llansawel (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → Llanelli Town (loan) | 15 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:53, 15 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Career
editA central defender, Sanca came through at Canton F.C. in Cardiff.[4] He joined the academy at Newport County for the 2023-24 season.[5][6]
He began to be included in first-team match day squads for the club in November 2023.[7] After 16 unused substitute appearances, he made his club debut in a 2–1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in EFL League Two on 13 April 2024.[8][9] In April 2024 Sanca was selected as the Newport County Academy Player of the Year.[10] In July 2024 Sanca signed his first professional contract with Newport County.[11]
On 3 January 2025, Sanca joined Cymru Premier club Briton Ferry Llansawel on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season.[12] On 29 August 2025 Sanca joined Cymru Premier club Llanelli Town on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.[13] He was recalled by Newport in January 2026.[14] He was released by the club at the end of the 2025–26 season.[15]
References
edit- ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 17th May 2025" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ↑ "Nelson Sanca". Newport County A.F.C.
- ↑ "Nelson Sanca". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ "Newport County's youth provides cheer on six-game losing run~". South Wales Argus. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ Kirwan, Chris (5 December 2023). "Coughlan: League Two chances must be earned at Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ "First Year Scholars Introduction". Newport-county.co.uk. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ "Graham Coughlan: Newport County will struggle to field a team in EFL Trophy". BBC Sport. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ Kirwan, Chris (15 April 2024). "Nelson Sanca has presence in abundance - Newport County boss". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ "NEWPORT COUNTY VS. TRANMERE ROVERS 1 - 2". Soccerway. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ↑ "Awards Evening 2023/24 | Newport County A.F.C." www.newport-county.co.uk.
- ↑ "Nelson Sanca: Teenage defender signs first Newport County contract". BBC Sport. July 3, 2024.
- ↑ "Sanca and Norris join Briton Ferry Llansawel on loan". www.newport-county.co.uk. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ↑ "Nelson Sanca makes loan move to Llanelli Town | Newport County A.F.C." www.newport-county.co.uk.
- ↑ "CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT : SQUAD UPDATE | Newport County A.F.C." www.newport-county.co.uk.
- ↑ "Retained & Released List". Newport County AFC. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
External links
edit- Nelson Sanca at Soccerbase
- Nelson Sanca at Soccerway
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