Maccabi Haifa Signs Brazilian Midfielder Bruninho on Three-Year Deal

Maccabi Haifa officially signed Brazilian midfielder Bruninho to a three-year contract on Thursday after he passed the club's medical tests. The club, coached by Barak Bachar, agreed with Bruninho's previous team, Ukrainian side Karpaty Lviv, on a transfer fee of 1.7 million euros. Bruninho will earn approximately 450,000 euros per season, making his contract one of the highest in Maccabi Haifa's squad.

Bruninho expressed his excitement about joining the club, stating, "It is exciting to sign with a big club like Maccabi Haifa. I look forward to seeing our wonderful fans and making them happy, as well as achieving our goals with the team." Maccabi Haifa's sporting director, Lior Rafaelov, said the club had been tracking Bruninho for a long time and believed he fits their playing style and philosophy. Rafaelov emphasized the club's commitment to helping Bruninho acclimate and contribute significantly.

Bruninho, who developed at Atletico Mineiro's academy in Brazil, joined Karpaty Lviv initially on loan in summer 2024, before the Ukrainian club exercised their purchase option last summer. He primarily plays as an attacking midfielder. In the previous season, he made 28 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing two assists. In the 2024/25 season, he recorded eight goals and three assists in 25 appearances. Maccabi Haifa had attempted to sign him in January, but the deal did not materialize during the winter transfer window.