Few players walk out of a deal that runs to 2028 and land in Spain within weeks. That’s exactly what Lucas Ribeiro has done. The 26-year-old Brazilian forward signed a one-year contract with Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa as a free agent on September 12, 2025, after a tense breakup with South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
The move hinged on a legal play more than a transfer fee. Ribeiro’s lawyers pushed for FIFA to approve his international clearance after Sundowns allegedly blocked multiple exits to Europe and Qatar. With that green light, Leonesa stepped in, betting that a quick, clean registration would outweigh the noise around the dispute.
Why the move happened: a legal fight and a window of opportunity
Ribeiro was tied to Sundowns until 2028, but his camp says the club shut the door on offers that far exceeded his market valuation—listed at about €2.5 million on Transfermarkt. Interest spiked after his strong showing at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he led the line for Sundowns and looked ready for a European move. Fluminense also made a serious push before the Spanish option won out.
To force a path out, Ribeiro hired Dupont-Hissel, a European sports law firm known for high-stakes transfer disputes. The lawyers leaned on a well-cited FIFA precedent involving Lassana Diarra’s clash with Lokomotiv Moscow: when a club restricts a player’s freedom to move without legitimate sporting or contractual grounds, FIFA can grant clearance so the player can work elsewhere while the legal case runs its course.
Here’s how the standoff unfolded, according to people close to the talks:
- Ribeiro told Sundowns he wanted to explore offers after the Club World Cup.
- European and Qatari proposals arrived; his camp claims the club refused to engage.
- Dupont-Hissel filed for provisional registration via FIFA, citing “freedom of movement” concerns.
- FIFA granted clearance, enabling Leonesa to register him on a one-season deal.
This is the crux: provisional registration means the footballer can play while any compensation claim goes to the FIFA Football Tribunal. If the tribunal later rules that Ribeiro breached his contract without just cause, it can order damages. But the new club typically isn’t penalized for signing the player, and the registration stands unless there’s a separate regulatory issue.
Leonesa, for their part, framed the signing as an opportunistic pickup. In a club statement, they highlighted his experience across Brazil, France, Belgium, and South Africa, and confirmed he arrives as a free agent for one season. The message was simple: they found a gap, moved fast, and got it done.
Timing mattered. By mid-September, the European window had shut for standard transfers, but free agents can still be registered if league rules allow. FIFA’s approval removed the key roadblock—the international transfer certificate (ITC) from the previous association—letting Spain process the move. Any fallout now shifts away from the pitch and into tribunal rooms.
What Leonesa get: a direct forward who can change their tempo
Leonesa needed momentum. Four games into their LaLiga 2 campaign, they had one draw and three losses, with the table leaders Racing de Santander next up. The squad lacked a consistent threat between the lines. Ribeiro offers exactly that: a left- or right-sided attacker who can drive at defenders, roll inside to combine, and finish from the edge of the box. He’s comfortable as a second striker too, which gives the coach options when chasing games.
His career path is unusual for a 26-year-old. He learned his trade in Brazil, took the European route via France and Belgium, then exploded onto wider radars with Sundowns from 2023. In South Africa, he thrived in a team that expects to dominate the ball. That’s useful in Spain, where Leonesa often need sharp counters one week and patient buildup the next. He can toggle between both styles, and he doesn’t shy away from defensive pressing, which buys him minutes quickly with a new coach.
Set pieces are a quiet bonus. Ribeiro can hit a heavy dead ball and attack the back post, which helps a side struggling to create from open play. In a tight Segunda División game, one corner or a late cutback decides everything. He gives them an extra way to steal points.
Registration details are straightforward: he signs for one season, occupies a non-EU slot, and is eligible once the league processes FIFA’s clearance. Expect a managed debut—20 to 30 minutes off the bench—before he starts. Conditioning won’t be the issue; chemistry will. Finding patterns with the No. 10 and the overlapping fullback is the priority.
What about the legal shadow? That moves on a parallel track. Sundowns can pursue compensation at the FIFA Football Tribunal, arguing Ribeiro ended his deal without just cause and that acceptable offers were on the table. Ribeiro’s side will counter that the club’s refusal to even consider those bids limited his right to work. The tribunal will look at the contract, the bids, timing, and any internal correspondence. Whatever they decide, Leonesa’s position is insulated: the player is registered, the season rolls on, and any financial ruling—if it comes—lands between the player and his former club.
So here we are: a LaLiga 2 struggler lands a top-end attacker in September, and a South African giant prepares for a legal fight. Football rarely gives clean breaks. But on the pitch, the picture is simple—if Ribeiro hits the ground running, Leonesa’s season looks a lot brighter, very fast.
