Derby sign Portuguese ace

The Division One side have pulled off a major coup by snapping up the young winger, after talks with the player's agent Jorge Mendes.

Costa is keen to pick up first team experience, rather than languish on the Portuguese giants' bench.

"I know this has all happened very quickly," said Costa. "And I am still coming to terms with it, because I thought I would be staying at Porto.

"This is an outcome that pleases me despite the club being in the First Division.

"Given the choice of playing in the Superliga or Derby then I would probably choose Derby.

"I don't know a lot about Derby but I know that it is a club with a history that are looking to win promotion to The Premiership.

"The important thing for me will be to play and be appreciated by the club and their supporters.

"I want to play and make sure I keep myself in the minds of those at FC Porto, that is my objective."

Derby boss George Burley was delighted to have landed the promising youngster.

‚Ç£We're delighted to bring Candido to the club, he's an exciting young prospect," Burley told the club's official website.

‚Ç£I wanted to bring some width into the squad and in Candido I feel we have a player who can take people on, cross the ball and is also capable of scoring goals.‚Ç¥

Costa rose to prominence at Salgueiros, after moving from Benfica as part payment for a debt.

Porto then swooped for the Portugal Under-21 star, and the 22-year-old is rated as a potential international star of the future.