Sara Granja, Tânia Rodrigues and Nadine Cordeiro all pen deals

A total of 12 ladies have already put pen to paper and signed for Sporting's female football team, after the sport made its return to the club after 21 years.

The ladies far announced are: Solange Carvalhas, Fátima Pinto, Diana Silva, Patrícia Morais, Matilde Figueiras, Ana Capeta, Ana Rita Viegas, Bárbara Marques and Bruna Costa, along with the signings of Sara Granja, Tânia Rodrigues and Nadine Cordeiro this Friday.

Sara Granja, 26, arrived in Alvalade after spells with Albergaria Mazel, Valadares and UMF Afturelding. “Sporting Clube de Portugal scares a lot of people. We will be looking to win the league, the cup and to reach the champions league", said Granja in an interview with the Sporting Journal.

A 17-year old striker, Tânia Rodrigues proved overjoyed with the chance to represent Sporting: "Our objective is to win the league. I would the opportunity to play for the national team."

Nadine Cordeiro is a 19-year old midfielder and already has caps for the national under-16, under-17 and under-19 teams.

Schelotto back from Argentina and ready to dive straight into training

The holiday season is already over for Ezequiel Schelotto, but the Italian-Argentinean couldn't be happier to return to Alvalade.

"All I was thinking about was coming back to Portugal and I can't wait to get into training with the team", affirmed the defender, continuing: "As of Monday, the coming season will be the only thing that matters. I am really looking forward to carrying on with the club and to putting a smile on the fans faces."

Schelotto has already found a special place in the Sporting faithfuls' hearts and he is looking to carry on in the coming campaign: "The fans are always with us. I received a lot of messages during my holidays asking me to carry on here. I always reply, because the fans are part of this project."

L'Équipe highlights Alvalade's contribution to the nation's Euro 2016 campaign

Not even Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich or for that matter any other club in Europe has as many players representing the respective national team as Sporting does.

This dominance is of course reflection of the quality of the Sporting Academy, highlighted in an article published by L'Équipe this week.

In the 0-0 draw against Austria, coach Fernando Santos included no fewer than six players who learnt their trade at Alvalade: Rui Patrício in goal, William Carvalho and João Moutinho holding down the midfield and Ronaldo, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma leading the attack.

Also on the bench was Sporting products Adrien Silva, Cédric, João Mário and José Fonte.

Only Barcelona comes close, having provided a total of five of the players for the Spanish national team's 2-1 loss against Croatia.

Ana Rita Viegas, Ana Capeta and Matilde Figueiras sign in at Alvalade

Another three players have penned deals with Sporting for the club's new female football side, following the arrival of Solange Carvalhas, Fátima Pinto, Diana Silva and Patrícia Morais.

Ana Rita Viegas plays as a midfielder and comes in from Estoril-Praia. "It is a a big responsibility to play for Sporting, it is a dream come true", said the 25-year old.

Ana Capeta is 18, but has long been playing the sport she loves. Although still young, she has already notched up experience with CB Castro Verde, Atl. Ouriense, Clube Atlético and Cultural da Pontinha. “To put on this shirt and to be part of such a quality squad is real honour for me", said Capeta.

Matilde Figueiras spent thirteen years with A-dos-Francos, but is now in Lisbon in search of silverware. "I am a tough player and I don't give up", commented the 20-year old centreback.

International shotstopper agrees deal

Sporting's female football team has added yet another heavy weight to their armoury, this time bringing the Portuguese international goalkeeper Patrícia Morais.

Joining Sporting after two years in France with FF Yzeure and ASPTT Albi, Morais is eager to get underway. "I played as a forward before I had a go in goal in a friendly game against USA", revealed the new signing.

Petrovic on his four-year deal at Alvalade

Speaking after penning a deal that will see him play in Alvalade for the coming four seasons, Radosav Petrovic proved happy with the opportunity to represent a side that he alraedy knew well.

“I know that this club is at a really high level and is looking to win trophies and to play in the Champions League. I know some players from here, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Nani and Peter Schmeichel, as well as some of the lads from the squad, like Slimani, Aquilani, Bryan Ruiz, Rui Patrício and William Carvalho", said the 27-year old Serbian arriving from Dynamo Kiev, adding: "When I decided to come here I didn't even need to speak with Miguel Veloso or anyone from the Serbian team. When the president invited me I really didn't need to think much about it. Of course I had spoken to Miguel (Veloso) about a lot of things during the season, including Sporting, but it was an easy decision. This is a club where I think I can show my quality."

“I prefer to show my qualities on the pitch than to just talk about them", finished Patrovic.

Serbian signs for four seasons

Sporting Clube de Portugal, Futebol SAD, has reached an agreement with the player Radosav Petrovic for four seasons, with an additional season and a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€.

Sporting SAD wishes Radosav Petrovic the best of professional and personal success.

Solange Carvalhas, Fátima Pinto and Diana Silva all sign in on Sporting's return to female football

Twenty one years later, Sporting has once again brought together a female football team. This week saw the announcement of the first official signings, with Solange Carvalhas, Fátima Pinto and Diana Silva all confirmed in Alvalade.

The three have all notched up senior caps for Portugal already. In fact, Fátima and Diana made it to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Euros. "This initiative by the club will bring a lot of people to female football and it will be a really competitive league", said Fátima Pinto after the announcement, having moved from the Spanish side Santa Teresa to Sporting.

Solange Carvalhas also has international experience under her belt and she is keen to apply it at Alvalade: "I started really early, in the youth system at 1.º de Dezembro. Then I had the chance to play in Belgium, where I played for Anderlecht for two years, and that is where I had the chance to turn professional."

Sporting CP to host French giants in presentation match

Sporting will debut Alvalade's new pitch, which is currently being laid, against the French side Olympique Lyon, at 19h30 on the 23rd of July.

Also announced this week was this season's Five Violins Trophy match, will will see Wolfsburg visit Alvalade at 19h30 on the 30th of July.

Lukas Spalvis, Alan Ruiz and Federico Ruiz sign in at Alvalade

Sporting has announced the signing of the Lithuanian Lukas Spalvis from Aalborg and the two Argentineans Alan Ruiz and Federico Ruiz from Colón. The forward penned a deal valid until 2018, with an option to extend until 2021 and with a buy-out clause of 60,000,000.00€. The two South Americans signed until 2020 and both have buy-out clauses for 60,000,000.00€.

Lukas Spalvis, who at the age of 21 has already been capped for the Lithuanian national team, was Aalborg's main weapon going forward, bagging 17 goals in 29 appearances. The young striker began his career in Germany with SV weil, before moving to Freiburg and eventually on to Aalborg in 2013.

Alan Ruiz, 22, arrives from Colón and is an offensive midfielder who can also play as a striker. He scored seven goals in just nine games played this season. After putting pen to paper, the Argentinean proved excited by the chance to shine in Alvalade: "Jorge Jesus is amongst the four best coaches in the world and it will be a privilege to work with a coach as important as him. Sporting is a great club that will be in the Champions League. The team really knows how to work the ball around well and the squad is full of players from national teams."