Nelson Sanca

Last updated
Nelson Sanca
Personal information
Full name Nelson Diogo Balde Sanca [1]
Date of birth (2006-10-10) 10 October 2006 (age 19)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Newport County
Number 31
Youth career
–2023 Canton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023– Newport County 4 (0)
2025 → Briton Ferry Llansawel (loan) 12 (0)
2025–2026 → Llanelli Town (loan) 15 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12:53, 15 January 2026 (UTC)

Nelson Diogo Balde Sanca (born 10 October 2006) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a central defender for EFL League Two club Newport County. [3]

Contents

Career

A central defender, Sanca came through at Canton F.C. in Cardiff. [4] He joined the academy at Newport County for the 2023-24 season. [5] [6]

He began to be included in first-team match day squads for the club in November 2023. [7] After 16 unused substitute appearances, he made his club debut in a 2–1 defeat to Tranmere Rovers in EFL League Two on 13 April 2024. [8] [9] In April 2024 Sanca was selected as the Newport County Academy Player of the Year. [10] In July 2024 Sanca signed his first professional contract with Newport County. [11]

On 3 January 2025, Sanca joined Cymru Premier club Briton Ferry Llansawel on loan for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. [12] On 29 August 2025 Sanca joined Cymru Premier club Llanelli Town on loan for the remainder of the 2025–26 season. [13] He was recalled by Newport in January 2026. [14]

References

  1. ↑ "Club list of registered players: As at 17th May 2025" (PDF). English Football League. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  2. ↑ Newport County profile
  3. ↑ "Nelson Sanca". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  4. ↑ "Newport County's youth provides cheer on six-game losing run~". South Wales Argus. 14 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Kirwan, Chris (5 December 2023). "Coughlan: League Two chances must be earned at Newport County". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "First Year Scholars Introduction". Newport-county.co.uk. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  7. ↑ "Graham Coughlan: Newport County will struggle to field a team in EFL Trophy". BBC Sport. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  8. ↑ Kirwan, Chris (15 April 2024). "Nelson Sanca has presence in abundance - Newport County boss". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "NEWPORT COUNTY VS. TRANMERE ROVERS 1 - 2". Soccerway. 13 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  10. ↑ Newport County awards
  11. ↑ Sanca Newport contract
  12. ↑ "Sanca and Norris join Briton Ferry Llansawel on loan". www.newport-county.co.uk. 3 January 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
  13. ↑ Sanca Llanelli loan
  14. ↑ Llanelli loan ends
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