Pepe puts pen to paper on new Porto deal at age of 40

Veteran centre-back Pepe has agreed to prolong his playing career at Porto, signing a new contract with the Portuguese giants at the age of 40.

Pepe is approaching the end of his 23rd season in senior football, the past five of those spent with Porto in what represents his second spell at the Estadio do Dragao.

The 133-cap Portugal defender has no plans to retire just yet, having put pen to paper on a 12-month extension with Porto to stay at the club until the end of next season.

“I’m very nervous because it’s a contract that means a lot to me,” Pepe, who has played 28 times this season, told Porto’s official website.

“As a player and person, I usually say I’m very honest. I’m 40 years old but I owe a lot to Porto and I don’t want to defraud the president or the people at the club.

“I want to thank everyone at the club for making me better every day as a player, a person and a father.”

#L3NDA pic.twitter.com/7LIH82uGKh

— FC Porto (@FCPorto) April 23, 2023

Pepe has won 12 trophies across his two stints with Porto, including four Primeira Liga titles.

He also won the Champions League and LaLiga three times each during a 10-year spell with Real Madrid, as well as winning Euro 2016 and the 2018-19 Nations League with Portugal.