Reuters 01 January 2026, 20:18

FIFA has imposed a transfer ban on Brazil’s Botafogo due to financial obligations for the transfer of Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada from Atlanta United. This is reported by the Reuters agency.

Since January 1, the club is prohibited from registering new players for a period of up to three transfer windows. The reason was overdue payments for the transfer of Almada, the amount of which is 22.5 million dollars. The repayment of this debt is the only condition for the early lifting of sanctions.

The financial dispute between the parties lasted almost a year. In February, FIFA ordered Botafog to pay $21 million in principal and another $1.5 million in penalty interest. The Brazilian club challenged the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but in December CAS upheld Atlanta’s claims.

In addition, according to the sources, Botafogo may owe another 9 million dollars in bonuses and interest from the further transfer of Almada to Atletico Madrid.

The Brazilian club finished sixth in Serie A last season, 16 points behind champions Flamengo.