Another New Face at FC Porto, Bringing Reinforcements to Five

FC Porto's volleyball team has secured the signing of Canadian middle blocker Grace Calnan for the 2026/27 season. The 25-year-old athlete arrives at the Dragão from CVB Barça, a Spanish second-division club, to play under coach Miguel Coelho.

A native of Nova Scotia, Canada, Calnan began her career in her home country. During her university tenure, she represented the Dalhousie Tigers, a team with which she twice won the Atlantic University Sport, an academic league encompassing colleges in Eastern Canada.

After completing her studies, the player moved to Catalonia. Her strong performances for CVB Barça, which finished fifth in the second division last season, caught the attention of FC Porto officials, who moved to sign her with the aim of defending their national title.

Standing at 1.91 meters, with an attack reach of 3.28 meters and a block reach of 3.09 meters, Grace Calnan will bolster the team's middle block, joining Kelsey Veltman, Saska Durovic, and Nieko Thomas.

FC Porto's newest player expressed her ambition, promising to "work hard every day" and "play with great joy and passion for volleyball." Her focus is clear: to "win the championship again" and "develop as an athlete by playing against top teams."

Before the Canadian's arrival, FC Porto, who won both the national championship and the Portuguese Cup last season, had already announced four other signings: American middle blocker Nieko Thomas, Serbian opposite hitter Natasa Cikiriz, American outside hitter Caylen Alexander, and German libero Annie Cesar. 

FC Porto, the national champions, will face Spanish side Cajasol Andalucía in the first qualifying round for the Champions League, with the first leg scheduled for the Dragão Arena on October 20 or 22. The decisive second leg will be played the following week in Spain.