Red Star FC sign Portugal and Angola defender Leonardo Buta from Udinese

Portugal and Angola left-back Leonardo Buta has joined French Ligue 2 club Red Star FC from Udinese, completing a move that takes the 24-year-old to Paris and keeps him under contract until June 2029.

Buta arrives after a season in which he spent time on loan away from the Italian club. He joined Rio Ave on loan in February 2026, having begun the campaign with Spanish side SD Eibar in another temporary switch from Udinese.

The defender returned to Udinese at the end of each loan spell before making his move to Red Star on 19 August 2026. He had been contracted to the Serie A club since 2022, when Udinese signed him from Braga B for €2m.

Buta made his senior move to Braga B after progressing through the Portuguese club’s youth system. He had previously been with Braga’s Under-23 and Under-19 teams, having started his development at Palmeiras Under-17 and Anadia’s Under-15 side.

The 1.82m defender is a left-footed specialist at left-back. His arrival gives Red Star a player with experience of football in Portugal, Italy and Spain, following loan spells with Gil Vicente, SD Eibar and Rio Ave during his time at Udinese.

Buta’s first temporary move away from Udinese came in July 2023, when he joined Gil Vicente. He returned to Italy the following summer before moving to Moreirense, initially on a permanent transfer in September 2024, then going back to Udinese in July 2025.

That 2025-26 season saw him leave Udinese twice on loan. He spent the opening part of the campaign with SD Eibar before switching to Rio Ave in February, with both arrangements ending before his latest transfer.

Buta’s recorded market value at the time of the move was €1m, while his highest recorded value was €3m. Red Star have now secured his services through the end of the 2028-29 season.

The move completes Leonardo Buta’s switch from Udinese to Red Star FC on 19 August 2026.