SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio FC announced on Thursday the club had signed defender Lucas Silva and acquired defender Trova Boni on a season-long loan from Portuguese club Belenenses. The transactions are pending league and federation approval.

Silva comes to the Alamo City after seven seasons in Portugal, playing primarily in the country’s second-division Liga Portugal 2. The 26-year-old Brazilian began his professional career in 2017, spending three seasons with Académico Viseu. He then moved to GD Estoril Praia, winning the Liga 2 title with the squad in 2021.

Over the course of his Liga 2 career, Silva has appeared in 91 matches, racking up more than 6,000 minutes along with six goals and five assists. The 26-year-old was most recently with Feirense CD, having joined the club ahead of the 2022-23 season.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Lucas to our team,” said SAFC Head Coach Alen Marcina. “As a skilled left wingback, he is dedicated to excelling on both ends of the ball. Lucas showcases proficiency in beating opponents off the dribble and effectively defending in one-on-one situations. His unwavering work ethic and admirable character were pivotal in securing his signing. We look forward to integrating Lucas into our team identity upon his arrival in San Antonio.”

Boni returns for his second stint with SAFC after joining on loan in August 2023, making six appearances during the team’s push for the USL Championship Playoffs. In the 24-year-old’s time with Belenenses, he has played in Portugal’s first and second divisions, logging 2,750 minutes in 34 matches. Boni also spent three seasons from 2018-21 in Belgium’s top flight with KV Mechelen.

Boni has appeared in five matches for the Burkina Faso National Team, including qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

“We are excited to welcome back Boni to the team,” said Marcina. “The latter portion of 2023 served as a highly beneficial adaptation period for Boni, and we are confident he will be a dominant player in our backline for the 2024 season.’