Flamengo move for 11th academy signing in 2026, but striker demand stalls | OneFootball

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

Flamengo could secure its 11th signing for the youth academy this year. That’s because the club has agreed to sign forward Aiyran from Cuiabá. However, the 17-year-old asked for a high salary, 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 for Cuiabá’s senior team in Mato Grosso. 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.

Did Flamengo take long to convince Cuiabá?

The rubro-negro board had already made an offer for Aiyran in July, but Cuiabá played hardball. Cuiabá president Cristiano Dresch explained that he wanted to strengthen the academy by showing that players from the 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 didn’t 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. In the past, Aiyran was part of Botafogo’s youth academy, which 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?

So, 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 signing announcements for the rubro-negro academy:

Has Flamengo sold anyone from the academy?

Despite the new signings, Ninho do Urubu lost Ryan Roberto, who was bought by Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) for 10 million euros (around R$ 58 million). The forward asked Mais Querido for a high salary and wanted more opportunities in the senior team.

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