Bahia hold on to academy gem after São Paulo move, details | OneFootball

Bahia has decided to keep under its care one of the longest-standing prospects in its youth system. The club renewed the contract of 19-year-old left-back Daniel Lima after the player received an official offer from São Paulo for a permanent transfer in August.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the new deal runs until January 2028. His stay carries extra weight because of where he is in his career. Daniel will still be eligible to play one more season in the youth ranks in 2027, as he only turns 20 in August.

The idea is to keep developing the player before a possible full integration into the senior squad. The full-back has been at Bahia since 2019, when he arrived to play for the U-12 team. Since then, he has moved through different age groups and built virtually his entire development at the club.

The full-back’s traits and numbers

Daniel Lima plays as a left-back and has stood out for his ability to support the attack. At 19, he already has significant experience in youth football and has also had the chance to play for Bahia’s first team.

In the 2026 season, the player has made 27 appearances for the U-20 side, with two goals and six assists. In that category, he now has 83 matches, six goals, and six assists. Those numbers help explain why the club decided to keep hold of the player amid interest from another major Brazilian club.

São Paulo tried to sign the player

The approach from the São Paulo club came in August. São Paulo submitted an offer to sign Daniel on a permanent deal, but the left-back chose to stay in Salvador and continue his development process at Bahia.

The decision also reinforces the bond the player has built with the club. In addition to spending seven years at Bahia, Daniel Lima has already won important titles in the youth ranks and made his professional debut in 2025 against Confiança in the Copa do Nordeste.

What is Daniel Lima’s release clause at Bahia?

The new agreement extends his contract until January 2028 and makes Daniel another long-term asset for Bahia. The academy graduate’s release clause has been set at 50 million euros (R$ 293.8 million at the current exchange rate).

For now, the plan is to keep the player in Salvador, allowing him to complete his development while continuing to be monitored by the coaching staff. From there, his progress could determine when Daniel will be ready to earn a permanent place among the professionals.

The renewal therefore comes at a time when a promising player who has already attracted outside interest is gaining value. At 19, Daniel Lima remains tied to Bahia until 2028 and will have one more season to turn his youth-team standout status into opportunities in professional football.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.