Andrés Cuenca arrives at Sporting on loan from Como

Andrés Cuenca arrived in Asturias on Wednesday on a last-minute flight from Barcelona to complete his move to Sporting Gijón on loan. The centre-back, a Barcelona academy product, expressed his satisfaction as soon as he landed: «Very happy to return,» said the defender, who is familiar with the Sporting project from his previous time in the club's academy system.

The deal closes after more than a month of negotiations between Sporting and Como, the Italian club where Cuenca played last season. According to Sport, it was Cesc Fábregas who advised the player from the Alpine club to seek a move to develop competitively, opening the door to a loan. Although offers from higher-category clubs arrived, Cuenca's priority was always to return to Gijón.

Another defensive reinforcement

Cuenca becomes Sporting's tenth signing of the transfer window and, particularly, the fourth centre-back to arrive this summer. His arrival appears to be the penultimate of the window, with Sporting putting the finishing touches to their squad under Nicolás Larcamón. The defender could be available as early as this Sunday at El Molinón, where Asturians face Sabadell in the first league match, although he must first pass the medical and formalise his contract.