Gilson Costa has completed a move from Tarxien Rainbows to Maltese Premier League rivals Mosta FC on a free transfer, signing a contract that runs from 2026-02-05 to 2027-06-30. The 29-year-old defensive midfielder joins his new club with a current market valuation of €125k, strengthening Mosta’s options in the centre of the pitch for the Premier League Closing Round.
The transfer keeps Costa in Malta’s top flight after a short spell with Tarxien, where he had arrived earlier in the same season following a period without a club. The switch cost no transfer fee, with Mosta securing an experienced holding midfielder who has played across multiple countries and competitions. Registered primarily as a defensive midfielder, he is expected to operate at the base of Mosta’s midfield, offering protection to the back line and distribution in build-up play.
Born in São Tomé and holding nationalities of Portugal and São Tomé and Príncipe, Costa represents a seasoned profile for the Maltese league. His career has taken him through Portugal’s professional tiers and a series of international stops, giving Mosta a player well accustomed to adapting quickly to new tactical demands and environments.
Before arriving in Malta, Costa’s path included time in Indonesia with Persebaya Surabaya, in Lebanon with Nejmeh SC, and in Kazakhstan with FC Aksu. Earlier, he played in Oman for Al-Nahda Club and in Cyprus with Doxa Katokopias, underlining his experience across Asian and European leagues. In Portugal, he featured for Boavista FC and GD Estoril Praia after emerging from the youth structures of Sporting CP and Benfica, including appearances for SL Benfica B in the country’s professional set-up.
That broad journey has coincided with significant fluctuations in his market value. From a peak of €350k during his Benfica B days, Costa’s value has stabilised around the €100k–€150k range in recent seasons, with his latest assessment at €125k immediately before this move. The free transfer therefore presents a relatively low-risk acquisition for Mosta compared with his historical market standing.
Having already played in the Maltese Premier League Closing Round with Tarxien prior to the transfer, Costa now remains in the same competition but with a different shirt, rather than returning to clubs in Portugal or São Tomé and Príncipe. His continued presence abroad underscores a career defined by mobility and an openness to varied football cultures, and his latest move places him in another competitive battle for minutes and influence in Malta’s top tier.
With his contract now in place until 2027-06-30, Costa enters a new chapter expected to be one of stability after several short-term stops and a recent spell as a free agent. If he consolidates a regular starting role and reproduces the levels that previously lifted his value in stronger leagues, this stint at Mosta FC could help reassert his profile on the European radar and shape the closing years of his professional career.
