Former Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling has signed for Portuguese league leaders Porto.

He has been without a club since leaving Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Fayha in the summer.

The 36-year-old was linked with a move to Rangers but that did not materialise.

Smalling has signed a contract until the end of the season with Porto, with the option for a further year.

Porto have won all seven league games this season and already have a five-point advantage over second-placed Benfica.

Francesco Farioli’s side were beaten at home by Manchester City in their opening Champions League game.

Smalling was keen to extend a 19-year professional career that began at non-league Maidstone, with the centre-back going on to play for Fulham, Manchester United – where he won five major trophies, including two Premier League titles – and Roma, where he won the Uefa Conference League under Jose Mourinho in 2022.

He also won 31 England caps.