Francisco Conceição

Ajax

On 21 July 2022, Conceição signed with Eredivisie club Ajax, on a five-year contract, with Ajax triggering Conceição's release clause. Nine days later, he was an unused substitute as they lost the 2022 Johan Cruyff Shield 5–3 to PSV Eindhoven. He made his debut for the reserves on 8 August, equalising in a 1–1 Eerste Divisie draw at home to Telstar; his first-team debut came on 3 September in a 4–0 home win over Cambuur, replacing double goalscorer Steven Bergwijn after 61 minutes.

Shortly after, Ajax manager Alfred Schreuder revealed that he intended to have Conceição behind Antony in the pecking order, in order for him to get used to his new team, but despite Antony's departure Conceição status within the team didn't change and he remained a substitute, after Mohammed Kudus was preferred as the club's starting right winger. Conceição also struggled because he could not speak Dutch or English, leading him to play on the second team to adjust to the Dutch game.

On 1 November, two minutes after replacing Bergwijn, he scored his first goal to conclude a 3–1 win at Rangers in the UEFA Champions League group stage. He played in the 2023 KNVB Cup final against PSV, coming on in the 75th minute for Steven Berghuis as the game ended 1–1 and Ajax lost on penalties.

Return to Porto

On 1 September 2023, FC Porto announced that Conceição would be returning to the club on a season-long loan from Ajax. He was handed the number 10 shirt, the same number he wore at the end of his previous spell with the Dragons. The deal reportedly included a €10 million option-to-buy, which would become mandatory if he played at least 45 minutes in 25 matches. His return was criticized by the club's fans, including Mayor of Porto Rui Moreira, who was one of the person against his return.

Despite the criticism, Conceição began proving his doubters wrong, impressing in Porto's 1–0 league loss home against Estoril on November 3, earning a spot in the starting eleven. He also scored in the next league match away Famalicão in a 3–0. In January 2024, Ajax, who was monitoring form, tried to get him back from his loan, however, Porto refused to negotiate with Ajax.

On 3 March, Conceição impressed in Porto's 5–0 league victory over Benfica in O Clássico, creating the play for Porto's second goal, which was scored by Galeno. On 17 April, in the second leg of the semifinals of the 2023–24 Taça de Portugal, he scored and assisted in a 3–1 victory away at Vitória de Guimarães, to help Porto reach the final of the competition. Despite an underwhelming season from Porto, in which the club finished in third place in the Primeira Liga, Conceição had his breakthrough, finishing the season with 16 goal involvements (eight goals and eight assists), with Porto winning the Taça de Portugal after a 2–1 defeat of Sporting in the final on 26 May.

He missed the start of the new season, due to injury issues, though it came amid reports that Conceição refused to play for his new manager Vítor Bruno, following an altercation between him and his father and previous manager Sérgio. Despite his new manager denying that there were issues between them, Conceição began seeking a move away from the club, with Juventus reaching a verbal agreement with him over personal terms.

Juventus On 27 August 2024, Conceição joined Serie A club Juventus on a season-long loan for €7 million, plus €3 million in add-ons, if Juventus qualifies to the 2025–26 UEFA Champions League. Both clubs also drafted a gentlemen's agreement, where Juventus would have the priority to trigger his €30 million release clause in June 2025. He was given the number 7 shirt, left vacant since the exit of Federico Chiesa the same month and previously worn by national team teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

He made his debut for the club on 1 September, as a substitute in a 0–0 league draw against Roma. After missing the next matches due to an hamstring injury he suffered in training, Conceição made his return from injury on 28 September, scoring his first goal for the club in a 3–0 league win against Genoa. On 2 October, he came on as a 12th-minute substitute, with his team being down to ten players, he assisted the equalizer and scored a last-minute winner in Juventus's 3–2 comeback victory at away to RB Leipzig in the Champions League league phase. On 18 June 2025, he scored a brace in a 5–0 win against Al-Ain in Juventus' opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup.

On 22 July 2025, Juventus announced permanent signing of Conceição from Porto on a five-year deal worth €30.4 million, plus €1.6 million in potential bonuses.

International career Youth Conceição represented Portugal at under-16, under-17 and under-18 levels, for a total of 15 caps and three goals. In March 2021, he took part in the 2021 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, earning his first cap for the under-21 side, in a 1–0 victory in Croatia on 25 March. On 31 March, he became the youngest player (aged 18 years and 90 days) to score for Portugal in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, after closing the 3–0 victory against Switzerland in their final match in the group phase. He would help Portugal finish as runners-up, after losing in the final 1–0 to Germany. In June 2023, Conceição took part in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. Portugal were eliminated from the tournament, on 2 July, after a 1–0 loss to England in the quarter-finals.

Senior On 15 March 2024, Conceição was called to the senior squad by manager Roberto Martínez for friendlies with Sweden and Slovenia. He debuted on 26 March in a friendly match against the latter that ended in a 2–0 loss.

On 21 May, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024. On 18 June, he came off the bench in the 90th minute, before scoring his first goal for Portugal two minutes later, which secured a 2–1 victory over the Czech Republic in the opening match. His father Sérgio had scored a hat-trick against Germany almost exactly 24 years earlier on 20 June 2000 during UEFA Euro 2000; as such they became the second father and son pair to have scored a goal in a European Championship, after the Italians Enrico and Federico Chiesa who had scored respectively in Euros 1996 and 2020. After not featuring against Turkey, he played the full 90 minutes of the final Group F fixture against Georgia which Portugal lost 2–0, before making two further appearances off the bench against Slovenia (3–0 victory in a penalty shootout) and France in the knockout stage (5–3 loss in another shootout).

In May 2025, Conceição was selected for Portugal’s 2025 UEFA Nations League Finals squad. On 4 June, in the semi-finals, he came on from the bench and scored the first goal in the 2–1 win against Germany, marking Portugal's first-ever win against them in 24 years and securing qualification to the Nations League final. He and his team would go on to win the tournament 5–3 in a penalty shootout over rivals Spain.

On 19 May 2026, Conceição was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Style of play Conceição is a technical winger, with a tight turning radius, outstanding close control and an eye for playmaking in central zones. His game revolves around getting the ball into the penalty area from wide via carries and crosses. His compact build, standing at a low center of gravity coupled with quick, small strides allows him to make frequent and consistent contact with the ball while carrying it. This thereby enables him to execute constant sharp changes of directions. His agile feet also equip him with the ability to swiftly readjust himself to manipulate angles in the box, either to get shots off for himself or to set his teammates up.

Conceição's body composition also gives him good control over his gears, as he utilizes this to square up defenders, to keep them on their toes, before hitting them off guard with a good sudden burst. He also utilizes these short explosive bursts brilliantly when cutting inside, using a variety of touches – long, short, to disrupt the rhythm of defenders. led to comparisons to Eden Hazard and Lionel Messi in the Portuguese press, with him sometimes being nicknamed "Messi do Olival" (Olival's Messi) by fans and in media outlets.

Personal life Born in Coimbra, Conceição is the fourth son of former Portugal international footballer and Al-Ittihad manager Sérgio Conceição; his older brothers Sérgio and Rodrigo are also professional footballers.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Conceição goal.

Individual SJPF Young Player of the Month: March 2024 Serie A Goal of the Month: March 2026