Botafogo’s main highlight in the 2025 season, striker Luiz Henrique, 24 years old, was officially signed as a new signing by Zenit, from Russia. The negotiation involved two other players who will arrive in Rio de Janeiro.
Striker Artur, ex-Palmeiras, and midfielder Wendel, ex-Fluminense, will be Glorioso’s reinforcements for the 2025 season.
MORE: Botafogo: who is David Ricardo, Ceará defender close to Glorioso?
How was the exchange between Botafogo and Zenit?
Luiz Henrique arrives at the Russian club for 35 million euros (R$218 million at the current price), in addition to five million euros for goals achieved.
Under these conditions, Botafogo maintains 20% of the athlete’s economic rights and can profit from a future sale.
Arthur, in turn, cost R$62.5 million for John Textor’s SAF. Wendel is already in agreement with Glorioso, but Zenit will only release him after the Club World Cup.
On social media, Botafogo thanked the striker for the 2024 season.
— Thank you, Luiz Henrique! You made us smile in a unique way and brightened our fantastic year 2024. The black and white fans will always remember you! — paid homage to Glorioso.
MORE: Which players left Botafogo? How is the starting team?
Hired by Botafogo: how Arthur and Wendel’s season was at Zenit
Zenit is in second place in the Russian Championship, with 39 points in 18 games, the same score as the leader, Krasnodar.
In the Russian Cup, they lead Group D, with 16 points from six matches. The team had eight Brazilians in the cast: in addition to Arthur and Wendel, who were scheduled to leave, Douglas Santos, Nino, Rodrigão, Du Queiroz, Claudinho and Gustavo Mantuan.
At the club when he left Palmeiras, in 2023/24, Artur played 35 games for Zenit, with seven goals and four assists.
Wendel, on the team since 2020, has 149 games, 21 goals and 33 assists in the period.
MORE: Botafogo: why hasn’t Bastos performed yet?
What are Botafogo’s reinforcements for 2025?
- Léo Linck (goalkeeper) – Bought from Athletico-PR for 1.8 million dollars (R$ 10.9 million).
- Jair (defender) – Bought from Santos for 12 million euros (R$ 74.7 million) plus transfer of Tiquinho Soares.
- Artur (striker) – Ex-Palmeiras is signed with Glorioso for 2025.
- Wendel (midfielder) – Zenit player has an agreement with Botafogo and the club is trying to release the athlete before the World Cup.
Who can be Botafogo’s reinforcement for 2025?
- David Ricardo (defender) – Forwarded with Botafogo. Purchase for 1.2 million dollars (R$ 7.2 million)
- Marlon Gomes (midfielder) – Player wants to play for Botafogo, but Shakhtar Donetsk (UCR) rejected a proposal of 10 million euros (R$62.2 million). Alvinegro should make a new offer in the next few days.
- Bitello (midfielder) – Player’s salary has been agreed with Botafogo, which approached the purchase from Dynamo Moscow (RUS) after an offer of 18 million euros (R$ 112 million) plus bonuses.
- Cucho Hernandez (striker) – Botafogo presented a proposal, of an unknown value, to the Columbus Crew (USA). However, the Colombian player asked for R$4 million in salary per month and Alvinegro backed down.
- David Ricardo: Botafogo is in the final stretch of negotiations with Ceará for the 22-year-old defender.
Regarding the search for a new coach, Botafogo is active in the market, but the targets have been kept confidential since the refusal of André Jardine, from América-MEX, on January 5th.
How is the Botafogo team for 2025?
Taking into account the 4-2-3-1 system used in 2024, the current lineup would be: John; Vitinho, Bastos, Alexander Barboza and Alex Telles; Gregore and Marlon Freitas; Savarino, Matheus Martins (improvised on the right end) and Jeffinho; Igor Jesus. Coach: Carlos Leiria (coach of the under-23 team and team commander at the beginning of Carioca).
Botafogo’s next games
- Botafogo x Volta Redonda – 01/22 – 9:30 pm (Brasília time) – Campeonato Carioca
- Botafogo x Bangu – 01/26 – 6pm (Brasília time) – Campeonato Carioca
- Botafogo x Fluminense – 01/29 – 9:30 pm (Brasília time) – Campeonato Carioca
Botafogo’s last games: results
See below how Botafogo’s last games went.
- 18/01 – Sampaio Corrêa-RJ 2 x 1 Botafogo – Carioca Championship
- 14/01 – Botafogo 2 x 0 Portuguesa-RJ – Campeonato Carioca
- 11/01 – Botafogo 1 x 2 Maricá – Carioca Championship
