The Southampton defender and captain, who has been linked to a string of top European clubs following his performance at Euro 2016, handed over his number 4 shirt to Penafiel Mayor António Sousa who said it would be kept forever more at the city’s museum.
José Fonte left Penafiel at the age of ten before moving south and on to Sporting where he started his professional football career before moving to London where he spent three seasons at Crystal Palace before finally heading to the English south coast.
Fonte was greeted by hundreds of locals in Penafiel who had gathered outside the Town Hall.
He took the time to thank people for their support during the European championships and said they were the inspiration that led the team to their maiden Euro victory.