The Lion City Sailors have signed Brazilian Pedro Henrique ahead of the 2022 season ahead of the Asian Football Confederation Champions League.
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While the Sailors said in a release that the player was joining for an undisclosed fee, online reports indicate that the club paid Portuguese side Vitoria Guimaraes 1.3 million Euros (S$2 million) for the 1.90-metre tall defender.
He will join the club on a three-year contract.
Henrique, 29, joins fellow Brazilian Diego Lopes at the Sailors, and will look to form a defensive partnership with Singapore internationals the likes of Amirul Adli, Tajeli Salamat and Hariss Harun.
Henrique was a target for Portuguese giants FC Porto in the summer of 2017, a year that saw Vitoria finish fourth in the Portuguese top tier, and runners-up in the Portuguese Cup, behind Benfica.
The Sailors said that Henrique will bring aerial prowess to the Sailors backline, along with positional sense and a composure that complements his ability to distribute the ball from the back.
“I wish I could heve been part of the team when the club won the league last year, but I’m excited about everything else that the club is doing off the field as well.
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“The Sailors project is very ambitious, and I’m delighted to be able to play a part in making that vision a reality,” said Henrique, who has tasted Asian football with Saudi Arabian side Al-Wehda in 2021.
“I’m looking forward to working with Diego, and club head coach, Kim Do-hoon who won the ACL as recently as 2020.
“With so many of the squad having international experience with the Singapore team, I’m confident we will grow to be a team to be reckoned with.”
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“Pedro comes with qualities that will help the team improve even further. We are very clear that we must work to become competitive at the Asian level, and I’m confident that Pedro will help us on our journey,” said coach Kim.
“I can’t wait to get started with the team in 2022.
“With the likes of Kim Shin-wook and Pedro, along with the local players we have brought on board, I believe we will be more effective in improving our football.”
In November, the Sailors signed Kim Shin-wook for a reported fee of $3 million.
MAIN PHOTO: Vitoria Guimaraes/Lion City Sailors
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