Dubai: Bani Yas confirmed the signing of 31-year-old Spanish defender Angel Dealbert from Russia’s Kuban Krasnodar on Thursday.
Dealbert, formerly of Spain’s Valencia and Castellon, is the second signing under new Spanish coach Jose Garcia and his compatriot sporting director Jesus Garcia Pitarch, following the acquisition of 32-year-old South Korean midfielder Kim Jung-woo from Sharjah last month.
Jung-woo and Dealbert join retained Chilean striker Carlos Munoz, signalling uncertainty for Omani defender Abdul Salam Al Mukhaini, Argentinian pair Luis Farina and Leonardo Prediger and Brazilian forward Marcelo Pereira, as the club go in search of their fourth and final foreign signing.
Bani Yas finished a disappointing ninth in the 14-team Arabian Gulf League last season and will look to improve under their new Spanish set-up.
Elsewhere, Al Wasl have signed 25-year-old Brazilian striker Ederson Alves Ribeiro Silva from Brazil’s Atletico Paranaense.
Ederson is the third Brazilian to join under the club’s new Brazilian coach Jorginho, after fellow striker Neto Berola, 26, moved from Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro and midfielder Fabio Virginio de Lima, 21, signed from Brazil’s Atletico Goianiense, last month.
Al Wasl have embarked on a complete overhaul after finishing 12th in last season’s Arabian Gulf League and await confirmation of their fourth foreign signing.
Argentinian midfielder Emmanuel Culio, Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira and Chilean midfielder Edson Puch, are all free to leave.
Argentinian midfielder Mariano Donda, Senegalese striker Andre Senghor, Brazilian midfielder Kaio Gonsalves and Australian defender Milan Susak, have already departed.
Meanwhile, Al Shabab Al Arabi are on the verge of signing 24-year-old Brazil-born Moldovan striker Henrique Luvannor from Moldova’s Sheriff Tiraspol, formerly of Brazil’s Morrinhos.
If confirmed, Luvannor would be new Brazilian coach Caio Junior’s first signing, replacing outgoing Brazilian striker Adeilson Parreira. He would complete Al Shabab’s foreign quartet, lining up with Uzbek midfielder Azizbek Haydarov, Chilean midfielder Carlos Villanueva and Brazilian forward Edgar Bruno.
