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 18)
Place of birth Lisbon, Portugal
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Llanelli Town (on loan from Newport County)
Youth career
–2023 Canton
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2023– Newport County 4 (0)
2025Briton Ferry Llansawel (loan) 9 (0)
2025–Llanelli Town (loan) 0 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 09:47, 30 August 2025 (UTC)

Nelson Diogo Balde Sanca (born 10 October 2006) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a central defender for Cymru Premier club Llanelli Town on loan from 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]

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