Maccabi Haifa Signs Brazilian Playmaker Bruninho to Boost Attack

Maccabi Haifa announced on June 28, 2026, that Brazilian attacking midfielder Bruninho has agreed to join the club on a three-year contract, pending medical tests. The club had pursued the player since January and finally secured his signing to strengthen their offensive lineup at Sammy Ofer Stadium.

Bruninho, full name Bruno Roberto Pereira da Silva, is the son of former Botafogo player Bruno Heleno. He developed in the youth ranks of Atletico Mineiro, the same club that produced Ronaldinho, making his senior debut five years after joining the academy. Despite early interest from top English clubs like Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester United, Atletico Mineiro retained him, but he struggled to secure a regular starting role.

His career involved several loans to lower-tier Brazilian teams including Guarani, where he became the top scorer with seven goals and two assists. Financial constraints prevented Guarani from exercising a purchase option. Later, Bruninho moved to the Ukrainian league, joining FC Lviv mid-season, where he scored eight goals in his first year, including a record-setting nine-minute hat-trick. Lviv then purchased him for 800,000 euros, making it one of the club's most expensive signings.

At Lviv, Bruninho played as a full-time number 10, scoring five goals and providing assists against strong teams like Dynamo Kyiv, who had shown interest in him. His strengths include high dribbling success (3.9 dribbles per game at 86% success rate) and key passes (0.7 per game), making him a creative force capable of unlocking defenses.

Maccabi Haifa expects Bruninho to fill a playmaker role that has been lacking, potentially replacing players like Dia Saba by freeing teammates such as Eitan Azoulay, Ali Mohamed, and Peter Agaba for more defensive duties. His ability to create chaos and provide the spark for fast attackers like Silva, Cani, and Tribente Stewart could significantly enhance Haifa's attacking threat. While not necessarily the team's best player, Bruninho is seen as a crucial complement who could elevate the club's offensive cohesion under coach Barak Bachar.