Fresh Off World Cup Gold, Argentine Star Vicky Granatto Signs With Belgian Powerhouse Gantoise

You don't just win a World Cup and quietly slip back into the club routine. You arrive as a conquering hero. For Argentine veteran forward Maria Victoria "Vicky" Granatto, that victory lap is heading straight to the Belgian Honour Division. Just hours after lifting the sport's ultimate prize, Granatto was officially unveiled as the newest blockbuster signing for Gantoise, instantly shifting the balance of power in European club hockey.[1][4]

The timing of the move is impeccable. Over the weekend, Granatto cemented her legacy at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, helping Las Leonas stun the heavily favored Netherlands in their own backyard. After a grueling 1-1 draw in normal time, Granatto stepped up to bury Argentina's first shootout attempt, setting the tone for a ruthless 3-1 tiebreaker victory.[1]

Gantoise wasted no time capitalizing on the momentum. The club's official channels lit up on Monday with a swaggering announcement that captured the stakes of the acquisition: "World Champion yesterday. Gantoise menace tomorrow." The club promised that Granatto is bringing her trademark speed, energy, and a heavy dose of "Argentinian GRINTA" to a squad already built for deep postseason runs.[4]

For Granatto, this is a homecoming. The 35-year-old previously wore the sky blue and white of Gantoise during the 2017-2018 season. Since then, she has amassed over 70 international caps, an Olympic silver medal in Tokyo, and now, the ultimate gold medal. The Belgian club knows exactly what they are getting: a battle-tested attacker who thrives under the brightest lights and remains, in their own words, "absolutely horrible news for defenders."[2][4]

Granatto isn't walking into a rebuild; she is the final piece of a super-team. The Gantoise dressing room is about to look like a World Cup podium reunion. The club's domestic core—Hélène Brasseur, Alix Gerniers, Ambre Ballenghien, Emilie Verhees, and Stephanie Vanden Borre—just made history of their own, capturing a historic bronze medal with the Belgian Red Panthers at the very same tournament.[1]

Pairing an Argentine gold medalist with a core of Belgian bronze medalists gives Gantoise terrifying depth heading into the Euro Hockey League (EHL) season. The club is explicitly loading up to challenge the Dutch hegemony in Europe. With Amsterdam and SCHC boasting their own silver-medal-winning Dutch internationals, the EHL Women's event next Easter is shaping up to be a direct rematch of the World Cup's final weekend.[1]

Granatto's move is the crown jewel of a frantic post-World Cup transfer window that is reshaping leagues across the globe. As the international window closes, domestic powerhouses are scrambling to integrate returning stars and fresh imports. Down in Australia, the Brisbane Blaze just executed a similar maneuver, announcing their 2026 squads with a heavy influx of World Cup talent.[5][6]

The Blaze secured their own international coup by signing German World Cup standout Sara Strauss as the club's first-ever international import, adding a dynamic edge to their striker line. Brisbane also pulled off a massive domestic transaction, bringing veteran Shane Kenny out of retirement while welcoming back a slew of Kookaburras and Hockeyroos from their campaigns in Europe.[5]

But the transaction wire isn't entirely filled with celebrations. While the Gantoise women's side is popping champagne, the men's squad was forced into a heartbreaking roster move. The club officially parted ways with EHL champion and Irish national team goalkeeper Jaime Carr for the 2026/27 season due to a severe, lingering shoulder injury.[3]

Carr was the Man of the Match when Gantoise lifted their first European title, making his departure a bitter pill for the club's supporters. To fill the void in the net, Gantoise has signed Spanish shot-stopper Adrian Rafi, a necessary but painful pivot as they prepare for their title defense.[3]

Ultimately, the story of the late-summer window belongs to Granatto. The transition from the international stage to the domestic grind is notoriously difficult, but arriving with a gold medal around your neck changes the calculus. The target on Gantoise's back just got exponentially larger, and they wouldn't have it any other way.[1][4]