Brazilian Pro Returns Strongly to Durra

Abdulaziz Jassim: The 2026-2027 season witnesses a strong comeback for Brazilian professionals, a presence we missed in previous seasons. This season, 23 Brazilian players will participate in the Zain Premier League, a significant figure given that the total number of foreign professionals across the league is 60, spread among 12 clubs. Notably, this season all clubs have finalized their foreign player rosters with complete contracts.

Al-Sahel and Al-Shabab lead the signings of “Samba” players, having closed their foreign player files with exclusively Brazilian signings (5 out of 5). In fact, Al-Shabab’s head coach is also Brazilian, Wagner Andrade, while Al-Sahel is managed by national coach Ali Abdul-Razzaq, who recently led his team to promotion to the Premier League.

Al-Salmiya ranks second in terms of Brazilian signings, with four professionals, after winning the Zain First Division title a few days ago.

When discussing the “Samba dancers” in our league, we must not forget the current best foreign professional, who stood out notably in previous seasons with Al-Fahaheel: striker Vitor da Silva, known for scoring the most beautiful and technically precise goals.

Overall, specifically among last season’s top teams, Al-Kuwait made only one change to its foreign players, signing Brazilian Carlos Vinicius to replace Ivorian Idrissa Dumbuya, while retaining the Conguese quartet of Malek Zola, the Moroccan Mehdi Barhmi, the Bahraini Mohammed Marhoon, and the Tunisian Taha Yassine Khenissi.

As for the runner-up, Al-Arabi, retained three players: Brazilian defender Leonardo Sheldon, Nigerian Anyue Iwuala, and Palestinian Zaid Qanbar. They also signed three new foreigners: Senegalese Johar Rasoul, Ethiopian Kenan Maliko, and Brazilian Lucas Chalon. The “Green” team will be forced to release one of its foreign players, as the Football Association’s competition regulations limit foreign professional registrations to five only.

Third-placed Al-Qadsiya, under coach Mohammed Ibrahim, replaced all of last season’s foreign players, signing five new ones: Ivorian Cedric Gbo, Nigerian Gabriel Orok, Omani Abdulrahman Al-Mashfari, and Moroccans Ayoub Lakhdar and Hamza Khaba.