Queens Park Rangers are preparing for the return of right-back Hevertton Santos after Vitória de Guimarães confirmed they will not activate his €2 million buy clause.
The Brazilian is now expected to rejoin the Championship side this summer, with his future once again up in the air.
Guimarães Loan Cut Short by Limited Opportunities
Santos joined the Primeira Liga outfit in January on loan, with the Portuguese side holding an option to make the deal permanent for €2 million. However, the 24-year-old struggled for regular minutes in Portugal, registering just 370 minutes across eight appearances.
After a promising start, his involvement dwindled significantly. Since March, Santos has featured in only one game — an eight-minute cameo against Farense — casting serious doubt over his future in Guimarães colours. According to *O Jogo*, the club has definitively decided against triggering the buy clause, making his departure this summer “certain.”
This means Santos will now return to Loftus Road, where he made nine appearances for QPR in the first half of the 2024–25 campaign before his mid-season move back to Portugal.
Santos’ Future Hinges on QPR Summer Plans
QPR now face a key decision regarding the Brazilian defender’s role for the 2025–26 campaign. Signed on a free transfer from Estrela da Amadora last summer, Santos has yet to fully convince at Championship level and may be deemed surplus to requirements depending on incoming transfer activity and tactical shifts under Marti Cifuentes or his successor.
The club may consider another loan, a permanent exit, or the possibility of integrating him back into the first-team squad, particularly if depth is needed on the right side of defence.
Early Career Path: From Lisbon to London
Santos began his youth career in Portugal, progressing through CIF and Sporting CP’s academy, where he signed his first professional contract in 2019. He moved to Estrela da Amadora in 2022, helping the club gain promotion to the Primeira Liga before moving to QPR in July 2024.
His return to Portugal with Guimarães was viewed as a chance to regain form in familiar surroundings, but a lack of playing time has seen those plans fizzle out.
Writer’s View
Hevertton Santos’ brief spell in Portugal has done little to enhance his standing, and QPR are now left with a player whose stock has arguably dropped. At 24, he still has time to re-establish himself, but whether that happens at Loftus Road remains uncertain.
With the club planning its summer rebuild, Santos’ future could hinge on whether he’s seen as a long-term asset or a player better moved on.
