FCSB have completed the signing of Cape Verdean defensive midfielder João Paulo from fellow Romanian SuperLiga side SC Oțelul Galați on a permanent deal, in a transfer worth €600,000. The move, registered on 2026-02-03, sees the 27-year-old swap Galați for Bucharest, with his new contract at FCSB running until 2029-06-30.
The transfer keeps João Paulo in the Romanian top flight rather than returning to his home country, Cape Verde, and comes at a time when his market value stands at €700,000. Both clubs compete in the SuperLiga, meaning FCSB have invested close to his full valuation to secure his services from a direct domestic rival.
João Paulo joins FCSB after a rapid rise in value since arriving at Oțelul Galați. His market value climbed from €400,000 during his final months at FC Sheriff Tiraspol to €700,000 after establishing himself in Romania, underlining how his performances in the SuperLiga have enhanced his profile. A left-footed specialist in the defensive midfield role, he is expected to add balance, ball-winning ability and positional discipline to FCSB’s central unit.
The deal marks another step in a career that has steadily moved north and east across Europe. Born on 26 May 1998 in Ribeira Grande, Cape Verde, João Paulo first left his home country in 2018 to join Portuguese side SC Maria da Fonte from Sporting Clube Praia. He then progressed through Leça FC and CD Feirense in Portugal, where his value began to rise, before earning a move in 2023 to Moldovan champions FC Sheriff Tiraspol. In Moldova, he gained further experience in a different footballing culture before switching to Oțelul Galați in Romania and now securing a high-profile domestic transfer to FCSB.
At Oțelul, his performances in the SuperLiga were significant enough to trigger this move, reflected in his increased valuation and the fee paid. Operating primarily as a screening midfielder in front of the back line, his profile suggests FCSB see him as a long-term anchor in their spine, capable of dictating tempo and protecting the defence with his reading of the game.
For Cape Verdean observers, the move reinforces his status as one of the notable exports from the country’s football system, continuing a journey that has already taken him from Praia to Portugal, then Moldova, and now to one of Romania’s most prominent clubs. Locally in Romania, his transfer within the SuperLiga underlines FCSB’s intent to strengthen from within the league, targeting a player already adapted to the competition’s demands.
With a multi-year contract secured through to 2029-06-30, João Paulo now enters a defining phase of his career. If he continues the trajectory that has taken his value from modest beginnings in Portugal to a €600,000 transfer in Romania, his spell at FCSB could shape not only his reputation in the SuperLiga, but also his prospects for further moves and greater international recognition in the years ahead.
