Botafogo reached an agreement with Atlanta United of MLS for Thiago Almada, part of the Argentine squad that won the last World Cup. The transfer is valued at around $25 million, including the fixed price plus the bonuses, making it the most expensive in Brazilian football.
The figure exceeds the $20 million that the team owned by John Textor also paid earlier this year for Luiz Henrique. The American also owns Olympique de Lyon, so the factor of playing in Brazil before going to France is decisive when finalizing these millionaire operations.
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Almada, 23 years old, came through the youth ranks of Vélez Sarsfield and in February 2022 was signed by Atlanta United. An attacking midfielder or forward, he had an immediate impact in the United States by being named the best young player in 2023 and being a finalist for the best player of that season.
The top 5 most expensive transfers in Brazilian football:
- Thiago Almada (Botafogo) – $25 million in 2024
- Luiz Henrique (Botafogo) – $20 million in 2024
- Gerson (Flamengo) – $17 million in 2023
- De Arrascaeta (Flamengo) – $16 million in 2019
- Pedro (Flamengo) – $15.8 million in 2020
