Brazilian forward Lucas William Ribeiro Costa has been officially unveiled as a new signing for Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa, joining the Spanish outfit on a one-year deal as a free agent.
The 26-year-old attacker, born in Santa Helena, Brazil, arrives in León after spending the past two seasons with Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa. During his time at Chloorkop, Ribeiro won back-to-back Betway Premiership titles and left a mark at the FIFA Club World Cup, where his stunning strike against Borussia Dortmund was voted Goal of the Tournament.
In their statement, Cultural Leonesa welcomed Ribeiro with open arms, highlighting his career journey through Brazil, France, Belgium, and most recently South Africa. The club confirmed that the player is joining as a free agent, immediately available to contribute to their campaign.
However, the move has raised eyebrows back in South Africa. Ribeiro had previously announced that he terminated his contract with Sundowns and took his case to FIFA, citing blocked transfer opportunities and contractual disputes. Despite this, Mamelodi Sundowns have yet to release an official statement regarding his departure, leaving uncertainty over whether the saga has truly been settled.
For now, Cultural Leonesa are pushing forward, confident that they have secured a versatile attacking talent who can add flair and experience to their squad. But until Sundowns clarify their position, the story of Lucas Ribeiro’s move from Chloorkop to León may continue to unfold both on and off the pitch.
