Botafogo lift FIFA transfer ban, can register players again | OneFootball

Botafogo managed to lift the FIFA transfer ban, which was imposed at the end of last season due to issues involving the signing of attacking midfielder Thiago Almada in 2024, and can now register players again.

In a video released on the Alvinegro’s social media, John Textor announced the club’s removal from the transfer ban list. The punishment had prevented Botafogo from registering new players for three transfer windows.

“The transfer ban has been lifted and we can finish our signings for 2026. We are very excited about the coach, we have a new system, a new way of playing. The same characteristics, the same foundation, attitude, and ambition that brought us titles in 2024 and now we can put them into practice in 2026,” said Textor.

Details of the punishment

The action was filed by Atlanta United from the United States, which appealed to FIFA due to the incomplete payment of the agreed amount in the purchase of the Argentine attacking midfielder Thiago Almada.

Since it was ordered to pay US$21 million (approximately R$114 million) to the American team by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Alvinegro did not have the right to appeal the transfer ban. Therefore, the club had to complete the payment to lift the punishment.

Almada arrived at Botafogo in July 2024 and it was agreed between the parties that US$21 million would be paid to Atlanta United, but the club had only paid two installments.

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