Maccabi Haifa Signs Brazilian Playmaker Bruninho to Boost Attack

Maccabi Haifa announced on June 28, 2026, that Brazilian midfielder Bruninho has agreed to join the club on a three-year contract, pending medical tests. The club had pursued the attacking midfielder, who plays as a number 10, since January and finally secured his signing. Bruninho, full name Bruno Roberto Pereira da Silva, is the son of former Botafogo player Bruno Heleno and developed in the youth ranks of Atletico Mineiro, the same club that produced Ronaldinho. Despite early interest from major English clubs like Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United, he remained with Atletico Mineiro but struggled to secure a regular starting role, leading to several loan spells at lower-tier Brazilian clubs.

Bruninho's breakthrough came during a loan at Guarani in Brazil's second division, where he scored seven goals and provided two assists, becoming the team's top scorer. Financial constraints prevented Guarani from exercising a purchase option, and Bruninho returned to Atletico Mineiro before moving to the Ukrainian league. There, he joined FC Lviv mid-season and quickly became a key player, scoring eight goals in his first season, including a nine-minute hat-trick, a Ukrainian league record. Lviv then purchased him for 800,000 euros, making it one of their most expensive transfers. This season, Bruninho has scored five goals and provided key contributions, including a goal and assist against Dynamo Kyiv, a club interested in him and a rival of Maccabi Tel Aviv in European qualifiers.

Bruninho's arrival at Maccabi Haifa fills a creative void in the squad, offering a playmaker role that allows other midfielders like Eitan Azoulay, Ali Mohamed, or Peter Agaba to focus more on defensive duties. His strengths include excellent dribbling, averaging 3.9 successful dribbles per game with an 86% success rate in the Ukrainian league, and creating chances with 0.7 key passes per game. While not a prolific goal scorer, Bruninho's ability to disrupt defenses and provide the spark for teammates like Silva, Kani, and Tribente Stewart is expected to enhance Haifa's attacking dynamics. The club hopes he will bring the creativity and chaos needed to convert possession into scoring opportunities, potentially making a significant impact under coach Barak Bachar's system.