Estrela aposta em joia esquecida do São Paulo | OneFootball

Estrela da Amadora have secured the signing of left-back Ryan Carlos from Bahia, bolstering their squad for the upcoming Portuguese Primeira Liga season, according to Arquibancada Tricolor.

Ryan Carlos, 23, joins Estrela after a spell in Ukrainian football with Chornomorets, where he was on loan but failed to establish himself as a regular under Bahia’s management and was not part of coach Rogério Ceni’s plans going forward. The full-back's move is a return to European football after his brief stint in Ukraine.

A product of São Paulo’s youth academy, Ryan Carlos spent several years at the Cotia training centre between 2015 and 2018. He featured in the club’s sub-13, sub-15, and sub-18 teams, overlapping at times with emerging talents such as Young, Pablo Maia, and Talles Wander. Although he never made a first-team appearance for São Paulo, his background in one of Brazil’s most productive youth systems is seen as an asset.

Estrela da Amadora, competing in the Portuguese top flight, add Ryan Carlos to their defensive options as they look to strengthen their squad depth. This signing also reflects a growing trend of Portuguese clubs targeting Brazilian players who have built their foundations in established youth academies but find limited opportunity at their parent clubs.

For Bahia, the transfer frees up room in their squad and wage budget, as Ryan Carlos had struggled for minutes since returning from Ukraine. For the player, the switch presents a chance to achieve regular playing time and establish himself in European football—a pathway often taken by young Brazilian defenders in recent years.

The signing has been officially confirmed by Estrela da Amadora across their channels. Ryan Carlos heads to Portugal with the experience of having progressed through a key stage of his football development at São Paulo before seeking senior opportunities abroad. His move will be watched with interest as he attempts to carve out a role at Estrela and in the Portuguese league.