LAFC near Marlon Santos, announces Brazilian player | OneFootball

LAFC, the black and gold team from Los Angeles, confirmed the transfer and signing of a player coming “from the Brazilian beaches”

Contributed: Tiago Brandao and Bruno Oliveira

Marlon Santos: Who is the athlete in LAFC’s sights?

According to journalists Tiago Brandão and Bruno Oliveira, the player is Marlon Santos, a 28-year-old Brazilian center-back about to strengthen Los Angeles FC’s squad, bringing his vast international experience to Major League Soccer (MLS).

According to GE, in June, Fluminense tried to renew the defender’s loan contract, which was facing criticism from fans. However, the player did not accept a pay cut and chose to join Al Ain from UAE. Nonetheless, as he did not pass the medical exams, he is currently out of contract and a free agent.

The Los Angeles team hopes to replicate the success of other teams by bringing in players in the same position from Brazil, such as defenders Micael from Houston Dynamo and Rodrigues from San Jose Earthquakes.

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Trained in Fluminense’s youth ranks, the defender caught the attention of Barcelona, which signed him in 2016. At the Catalan club, he had few opportunities, making only three appearances for the first team before being loaned to Nice in France.

After his time in Spain and France, the Brazilian continued his career at clubs like Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Monza, where he most recently played, before rejoining Fluminense on loan. Now, as the club announced on its social media last night, he appears headed for Major League Soccer.

The creative tweet highlighted that a player from the beaches of Rio de Janeiro was on his way to the beaches of Los Angeles, implying that the new signing could only be a free agent like Marlon, as the league’s transfer window is already closed.

Marlon Santos at LAFC: Understanding the Move

The signing is considered strategic for Los Angeles, especially considering recent injuries in the squad. Colombian center-back Jesús Murillo suffered an injury expected to sideline him for an extended period, and Eddie Segura, another defender on the team, has his contract expiring at the end of the year.

LAFC searches for Marlon Santos in the free market / Celso Oliveira – TMLS

Marlon’s arrival reinforces the defense for the season’s final stretch, and also positions him as a long-term solution, offering experience and depth to the defensive sector. Additionally, for the first time in a long while, Steve Cherundolo’s team has a Brazilian player in such a crucial position as center-back, which could add a new dimension to the team.

Cover Image: Marlon Santos / Instagram