Former Sheffield Wednesday loanee Alessio da Cruz has penned a multi-year deal with Dutch top-flight side Fortuna Sittard, after leaving Serie B strugglers Feralpisalò.
The winger was brought to Hillsborough in January 2020 by Garry Monk but finds himself at his seventh club in just four years. Fortuna, who are one of seven Eredivisie clubs separated by a single point in mid-table, announced the capture on their official website.
“Alessio is a player who has been on our radar for quite some time,” said technical director Americo Branco. “Given the situation he found himself without a club, it was the right time for us to sign him. With his 27 years, he adds both experience to the selection, and the opportunity to develop himself even further as a player.”
The player was equally as delighted to have secured a move to a side in with a slim shout of European football next year, having seen his contract with relegation-haunted Feralpisalò cancelled on January 16th.
“I know the club has been following me for a long time,” said the Dutch-born winger. “I am happy that this time it has become concrete and that I have signed a multi-year contract. I can’t wait to get on the pitch and try to secure my place in the team.”
After coming through the youth academies at Ajax, hometown club Almere City, and FC Twente, he turned pro with the latter. He appeared three times for the senior team, as well as spending time on loan with FC Dordrecht. He later moved to Italian side Novara and impressed, scoring five times in six months. That earned him a call-up to the Dutch U20 side, and a €3 million (£2.5 million) move to Parma, despite interest from Arsenal.
His time there was not a success, and by the time he joined Sheffield Wednesday in 2020, he had a reputation as a bad boy, with a loan spell at Ascoli cut short after three red cards in six months.
Owls fans didn’t see the hot-headed version of their new signing. In fact, after his nine starts, and 15 games in total, they hadn’t seen much at all. He managed two assists, one in a 1-1 draw with Forest, and another as QPR were beaten 3-0, but that was it. In total, he managed just eight shots before the season ended.
He left Hillsborough and has since had a nomadic career, taking in loan spells in Italy, the Netherlands, and Mexico before leaving Parma. In 2022, after being released from his Italian side, he turned up in Belgium with Mechelen, where his form earned him a call up to Cape VErde’s national team. After one season and three goals (and a red card) in 28 matches, he was on the move once again, this time to Feralpisalò.
Writer’s View
Remember this one, Wednesday fans? He looked full of tricks on his debut against Millwall, but it was all promise and very little delivery. Nobody was surprised when he returned to Parma, his so-called ‘dream move’ having been a massive flop.
Fortuna have had their problems in recent seasons, but are seemingly now a staple of the Eredivisie once more. They’ll be hoping the fallen star, still only 27, can help them push up the table and maybe challenge for a European spot. They’re 14 points shy this season, so perhaps it’s a big ask, but if da Cruz does come up trumps, it might be achievable in 2024/25.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief at The Real EFL, Gary is a passionate Lincoln City fan with extensive content creation across the Championship and EFL. He also shares expert football betting tips.
