Marlon Freitas registered with CBF’s BID, cleared to make Palmeiras debut

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·8 Januari 2026

Marlon Freitas registered with CBF’s BID, cleared to make Palmeiras debut

Palmeiras announced last Sunday (4) the first signing for the 2026 season. The Verdão signed Marlon Freitas from Botafogo, the captain of the Rio de Janeiro club and a winner in Brazilian football.

Cleared to debut for Palmeiras

The midfielder was registered in the CBF's Daily Information Bulletin (BID) this Thursday (8) and is cleared to debut for Alviverde in the first round of the Campeonato Paulista, which takes place next Saturday (10) against Portuguesa.

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Arrival of Marlon Freitas

Palmeiras spent around €5 million (about R$33 million at the current exchange rate) to sign the midfielder from Botafogo. To be signed, the player had to request release from John Textor, the owner of the Rio de Janeiro club.

“First, I want to thank God for the opportunity, for everything He has done in my life. It's a huge opportunity in my career, I'm very happy to be here and be part of the Palmeiras Family. I'm convinced that this partnership has already worked out, and I'm sure it will be a victorious year for us. I'm very happy, now it's time to enjoy every moment wearing the Palmeiras jersey. I'm eager to play at Allianz Parque with the fans, meet my teammates, the staff, and see how the club operates. Everyone spoke very highly, I'm very happy to be here and I just have to thank God for everything,” the player told TV Palmeiras.

Trained by Fluminense, Marlon gained professional experience early in his career through loans to Fort Lauderdale Strikers-USA and Samorin-ESL, as well as stints at Criciúma (2018) and Botafogo-SP (2019). Between 2020 and 2022, the midfielder played over a hundred games for Atlético-GO, where he was an undisputed starter and won two state championships.

Change of profile

For the 2026 season, Palmeiras aims for a change in its recruitment profile, targeting more experienced players ready for immediate impact. The club hopes to replicate the successes of operations for Lucas Evangelista and Andreas Pereira, who quickly adapted to Abel Ferreira's playing style.

At Botafogo, a club he defended since 2023, Marlon was considered one of the technical and leadership pillars of the team, with good mobility, long passes, and through balls. In total, he played 186 games and scored five goals (in the 2025 season, Marlon Freitas played 59 matches, 56 of them as a starter, with one goal and five assists).

“I can take on this leadership role, I try to help in the best way possible and also learn. I'm sure I will learn a lot from my teammates, the coaching staff, everyone. I try to help the younger players too, especially in the last three years because I had difficulties when I moved up from the youth team and I know the importance of having an experienced player by your side to guide you. This is not only done with words but also with actions, setting an example. That's what I hope to convey, with a lot of work, dedication, resilience, and humility. I'm very happy, I want to help a lot, and I'm sure it will be a victorious year for us. I saw the word 'restart' on the wall of the training center, and I also want to return to the path of victories and achievements,” he declared.

Expectations for 2026

The first confirmed reinforcement for Verdão for the 2026 season, Marlon Freitas also commented on the contact he had with coach Abel Ferreira and his family's joy when they learned he would join the Greatest Champion of Brazil.

“I was shocked when I received his call, I was surprised. This shows confidence, which is important for a player. We talked a lot, we haven't discussed the tactical part yet, or roles on the field, but the important thing is that I'm always ready to help my teammates. The choice is always up to Professor Abel,” he said.

“I hope to help the club return to its winning ways. Every year, Palmeiras fights to win, and I made the right choice. I also have this hunger, this thirst to win, and I know these will be victorious years here wearing this very heavy jersey. This makes me very happy because all the sacrifices in the past were worth it, I gave up many things, and today I'm here wearing the Palmeiras jersey. It's a dream come true, and for my family too. They were very happy with the possibility, and when I told them everything was set, there was a lot of shouting at home. I know all the sacrifices they made too, and that's important. I always put God and my family first. Their support is very important for me to always give my best version every day, in training and games. It's still sinking in, in a few days I will be sure that I'm wearing the jersey of this giant of football,” concluded the Verdão's reinforcement.

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