Saint-Etienne has completed the signing of Portuguese U21 international central defender Chico Lamba from Arouca for over 6 million euros. The player was convinced by the club's ambitious project to return to the top tier of French football, following their recent relegation to Ligue 2. Despite facing strong competition for his signature, Lamba was identified as a priority target due to his solid defensive skills and adeptness with the ball. He is already present at the club, having arrived just a few hours ago.