Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Wednesday, December 31, 2025, 9:28 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, December 31, 2025 10:00 p.m.
FIFA has banned Brazilian club Botafogo from buying and selling players for three transfer periods.
The reason is a debt related to the transfer of Argentine Thiago Almada from Atlanta United.
Botafogo, sanction from FIFA
Botafogo has been suspended by FIFA for transfers and will not be able to register new players for the next three transfer periods. The United States club filed a complaint for non-payment of $21 million for 24-year-old midfielder Thiago Almada, who signed with the Brazilian club in 2024. The sanction takes effect on December 31, 2025, according to ESPN.
The Brazilian club is trying to reach an agreement with Atlanta. In a statement, Botafogo insisted the issue could be resolved quickly.
Regarding the recent FIFA sanction on player transfers, Botafogo informs that in recent weeks it has held constructive discussions with representatives of Atlanta United and MLS in search of an agreement related to the Thiago Almada case.
Talks have been suspended for the year-end break and will resume shortly. Botafogo hope the issue will be resolved before or at the start of the transfer window. The club will be very active in player transfers in January 2026.
– the press release issued by Botafogo
Thiago Almada / photo: Imago Images
Almada joined Botafogo in July 2024 in a deal worth $21 million, with the remaining balance still outstanding. He won the Brazilian title and the Copa Libertadores with the team, was loaned to Lyon in January 2025 and was bought by Atletico Madrid in July.
Similar situations in the group of which the club is a part
Many supporters believe that the people in the club's management are to blame for what happened. The Brazilian club is owned by American businessman John Textor, whose Football Holdings conglomerate also includes Lyon, with both clubs facing legal debt problems.
He is also a minority shareholder in Crystal Palace, which was moved from the Europa League to the Conference League due to a conflict of interest.
John Textor / photo: Imago Images
