Lithuanian champions FK Kauno Žalgiris continue reinforcing their squad by recruiting directly from league rivals, announcing the signing of Leo Ribeiro, one of FC Hegelmann’s standout performers.
The 31-year-old Brazilian moves to the champions after two excellent seasons with the A Lyga runners-up, choosing to extend his stay in Lithuania by joining the Kaunas side. This season, the attacking midfielder featured in all 36 league matches, scoring seven goals and providing nine assists, helping Hegelmann finish second both in the league and the cup.
Next year will mark Ribeiro’s fourth season in Lithuania, a fact underlined by Kauno Žalgiris sporting director Darius Šinkūnas, who praised the club’s newest addition:
“Leo is a player who has firmly established himself in Lithuania and already proven his abilities. He will strengthen our team. He was one of our main targets for this transfer window, so we’re very pleased we reached an agreement right after the season ended,” said Šinkūnas.
Following a successful medical in Kaunas, Ribeiro officially became a Kauno Žalgiris player. The Brazilian expressed excitement about the move:
“I’m happy to be here and I hope we can win another title. Joining the champions is the right decision. I really like the team’s style of play, and the club has excellent infrastructure. I worked hard this year to earn this opportunity,” he told in a statement to Žalgiris.
He also stressed the importance of unity:
“First of all, I want to be a good teammate. To become champions, we must be good teammates. Everyone wants to play, but the most important thing is the team,” Ribeiro added.
Before arriving in Lithuania, Ribeiro spent several seasons in Brazil. His first European experience came in 2021 with Džiugas Telšiai. Between that spell and his time at Hegelmann, he also played in Cyprus and Greece.
As Kauno Žalgiris continue assembling a competitive squad ahead of next summer’s UEFA Champions League debut, the club has already secured two more major signings from direct rivals FK Žalgiris – defender Joris Moutachy and newly capped Lithuanian international Motiejus Burba.
Source: https://zalgiris.lt/naujienos/fk-kauno-zalgiris-pasipilde-lietuvoje-jau-zibejusiu-leo-ribeiro
