Suwon Samsung recruited a left-footed center back and filled the 'last puzzle' of promotion.
Suwon announced on the 17th that it has recruited Brazilian center back Leo Andrade (27) through the club's official channel.
Leo is actually Suwon's last reinforcement to lead the transfer market this winter. Suwon previously reinforced its lack of positions by recruiting strikers Lee Yu-chenko, Kim Ji-hyun, flankers Bruno Silva, Seraphim, center back Kwon Wan-kyu, midfielder Choi Young-joon, Lee Min-hyuk, and goalkeeper Kim Jung-hoon.
The focus was on reducing the number of squads, but improving the quality of the players. Suwon, which has consistently searched for a "left-footed foreign center back" since the season, has consistently selected Leo, who has been on the Brazilian and European stages, as the right person. This further strengthened the 'spine line'.
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| Source=Leo Andrade Instagram |
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| Source=Leo Andrade Instagram |
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Leo made his professional debut in 2017 in Coritiba, Brazil, and played in the Portuguese first division for three seasons in the Portuguese maritimu uniform from 2020 to 2023. Leo, who joined Russia's Kimki in 2023, left the team after six months.
In July last year, he joined Ramia on a free contract and played 14 games as the main defender with his number 4. He was replaced at half-time in a home game against Atromitos Athens on the 12th, which was a farewell match, and coincidentally, the player who was replaced by Leo is Sebastian Ling, the brother of Jonathan Ring (Kalmar), who played in Jeju in the past.
Leo is 1m 91cm tall and shows strength in high-altitude play, one-on-one defense, and build-up. It's especially intimidating in set pieces. Like Kim Young-kwon in Ulsan, the left foot pass that is sprayed in all directions is excellent. Watchers say it is a resource that will inspire the nostalgia of Mato, who played for Suwon from 2005 to 2008 and wore the Suwon uniform for one more season in 2011.
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| photo courtesy of Suwon Samsung |
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| 브루노 실바. Source = Suwon Samsung |
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| Matheus Seraphim. Source = Suwon Samsung |
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| 김지현. Source = Suwon Samsung |
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In the K-League, Kwon Wan-kyu, who is a member of Incheon, Pohang, Seongnam and Seoul, boasting abundant experience and outstanding interpersonal mark skills, is expected to form a new 'foreign-native' partnership to protect the back door of Big Bird. Leo is not expected to have much difficulty adapting because there are many Brazilians on the same team such as Paulo Silva and Seraphim.
Leo said, "I am so happy and proud to join the prestigious club of Suwon Samsung through the club. I will do my best to achieve the goal that the team wants"How do you feel about joining the team?"
As Leo has completed the transfer process, he will immediately participate in Suwon's first winter training camp in Bangkok, Thailand. Suwon has unusually held an early winter camp since early December last year, and Byun Sung-hwan, who left for Bangkok on the 8th, will hold the first off-season training until the 28th. It will be tempered in the South Sea from the 30th to the 13th of next month. Suwon will play its opening game of the 2025 season in Ansan on Feb. 22.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
