Flamengo pursue 11th youth signing for 2026, but striker demands hold up

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Coluna do Fla

·5 Agustus 2026

Flamengo pursue 11th youth signing for 2026, but striker demands hold up

17-year-old will join Flamengo’s youth academy

Flamengo may be set to make its 11th signing for the youth academy this year. That is because the club has agreed to sign forward Aiyran from Cuiabá. However, the 17-year-old made high salary demands, which the Rubro-Negro is trying to work around.

Mengão will pay R$ 6 million for 60% of the economic rights of the youngest player ever to score a goal for Cuiabá’s senior team. The youngster will sign a four-year contract with Fla, but the salary figures have not been disclosed. The information comes from journalist Venê Casagrande.

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Did Flamengo take a while to convince Cuiabá?

Flamengo’s board had already made an offer for Aiyran in July, but Cuiabá played hardball. Cristiano Dresch, Cuiabá’s president, explained that he wanted to strengthen the academy by showing that players from that sector can rise to the senior team.

“We have a very good relationship with Flamengo, and they got in touch with me. We said no, that he is a strategic player for us and that we did not want to sell. Flamengo, because of the great relationship we have, respected that,” Dresch said on July 10.

What is Aiyran’s background?

So, the youngster arrives to join Flamengo’s under-20 side. Previously, Aiyran was part of Botafogo’s youth academy, but the club released the forward in 2024. Cuiabá then signed the player, who is from São Gonçalo, in Rio de Janeiro, the hometown of Vini Jr.

Has Flamengo already signed other youngsters this year?

If the deal goes through, Aiyran will be Flamengo’s 11th signing for the youth academy in 2026. The new names are part of a project by the Rubro-Negro board to strengthen Ninho do Urubu even further.

See the signings announced for the Rubro-Negro academy:

07/31/26: Pedro Henrique (Goalkeeper)
07/31/26: Andrew Nathan (Forward)
05/21/26: Cristian Araújo (Midfielder)
04/18/26: Weverson (Center-back)
04/17/26: Pedro Henrique (Defensive midfielder)
03/04/26: Diego Reyes (midfielder)
02/13/26: Juan Sayago (midfielder)
02/03/26: Josmar, Muñoz and Ramirez (striker, center-back and full-back)

Has Flamengo sold anyone from the academy?

Despite the reinforcements, Ninho do Urubu lost Ryan Roberto, who was bought by Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) for 10 million euros (about R$ 58 million). The forward made high salary demands to Flamengo and wanted more opportunities with the senior team.

What is the author’s opinion?

“Flamengo’s idea of taking young players from other teams’ senior squads and bringing them into the youth academy is very interesting. But the under-20 team specifically needs to deliver on the pitch. The academy players did not qualify for the second stage of the Brasileirão,” said João Vítor Reis of Coluna do Fla.

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