S’pore Football Club Signed Brazilian Midfielder for $2.89 Million, The Most Expensive Player in S’pore

If you’re not a football fan, you might be unware of the obscene amounts of cash that football clubs throw at each other to purchase the most sought-after stars.

Just over a decade ago, Real Madrid smashed the football transfer fee record by buying Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United for £80 million (S$145 million).

Fans around the globe had trouble picking their jaws up from the floor after hearing the news at the time, as it was an astonishing fee.

Fast forward less than ten years, and £80 million seems like pocket change.

The most expensive footballer right now is Brazilian attacker Neymar, who was bought for a staggering £222 milllion (S$402 million) in 2017 from French club Paris Saint-Germain.

More recently, a Singaporean football paid S$2.89 million for a player from Brazil. And while it may not sound like much in comparison, it still broke the national record.

S’pore Football Club Signed Brazilian Midfielder for $2.89 Million, The Most Expensive Player in S’pore

Singapore Premier League (SPL) side The Lion City Sailors (previously known as Home United) has signed Brazilian midfielder Diego Lopes from Portuguese Primeira Liga side Rio Ave for 1.8 million euros (S$2.89 million).

The club has broken the record for the most expensive football transfer in Singapore, making Lopes the most expensive footballer in the country’s history.

It is also the first time a local league club have paid a multi-million transfer fee to buy a player from a top European team.

According to ST, the previous record was held by Hougang United, who bought former Singapore international Fazrul Nawaz from Tampines in 2018.

As for Lopes, he found it tough to leave Portugal, but is excited by the move.

“I am delighted to join the Lion City Sailors’ ambitious project to become one of the top teams in Asia. It was not an easy decision for me to leave Rio Ave and the Portuguese league,” he said a press statement issued by the Sailors.

“I felt like the time was right for a new challenge in my career, and this opportunity afforded to me by the Sailors was one I could not turn down, and I look forward to being part of a team that consistently challenges for honours not only in Singapore, but also in Asian competitions.”

More Stars Joining SPL

Now, if we’re being completely honest, most football fans in Singapore can count on their hands the number of SPL matches they’ve watched.

But the league has become more exciting in recent years, as stars from across the globe have chosen to ply their trade here towards the end of their careers.

This includes Japanese World Cup star Kazuyuki Toda who joined Warriors Football Club in 2013.

The most famous footballer to have played on our pitches however, was Liverpool and Arsenal attacker Jermaine Pennant, who joined Tampines Rovers in 2016.

With more and more stars joining Singapore clubs in the twilight of their careers, maybe we’ll see Ronaldo and Messi playing here one day, when they turn 62.

First Privatised Football Club

The Sailors are apparently the country’s first privatised professional football club.

They have announced plans to build a multi-million dollar training facility by next year.

Currently third in the league table, the signing of 26-year-old Lopes will surely boost their title hopes.

And, more importantly, it may give some football fans here a reason to tune into the local games.

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