Dieguinho leaves Ceará, tells Time do Povo: “I learned to love this shirt” | OneFootball

Photo: Gabriel Silva/Ceará SC

Signed at the start of 2025, midfielder Dieguinho is leaving the People’s Team to experience a new chapter in his professional career. The player accepted an offer from Shimizu S-Pulse, a club in Japanese football. After the black-and-white side’s victory over Avaí, the midfielder informed his teammates of his departure, thanked them for his time in Porangabuçu, and declared his love for Ceará.

Dieguinho emphasized that this was a difficult decision to make, since he knows how important he is to the black-and-white squad and considering the bond he developed with the People’s Team.

“An opportunity came up in my life, an offer, and I’m not leaving because of Ceará, it’s because of the opportunity that came up for my family. It hasn’t been easy; it’s been a mix of emotions. There was a lot of prayer, asking God for guidance in making this decision to accept this opportunity for me and my family. The president—words can’t describe it—even knowing he might take criticism because of this news, he thought of me, of my family, he showed humanity. I want to say that I’m leaving, but part of my heart and my thoughts will stay here with you, and I learned to love this shirt in a very natural way even though I haven’t been here long. I will keep loving and supporting you,” he said.

In the deal, Ceará will receive total compensation of approximately R$ 4,000,000.00 (four million reais), at the current exchange rate. Dieguinho had a contract with Ceará until the end of 2026, a condition that, under football regulations, would have given the player the possibility of leaving at no cost when there were six months remaining on the deal.

The completion of the transfer is still subject to the player passing the medical examinations to be carried out by the Japanese club and the subsequent signing of an employment contract with the Asian club, and confirmation of the deal comes after the period requested by the Japanese club.

Dieguinho experienced Ceará intensely, gave his all in each of the 66 matches in which he took the field, and won over the entire Black-and-White Nation very quickly. Ceará SC thanks Dieguinho for the time he spent here and wishes him all the best in his professional journey.

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