Esperance complete Lucas Ribeiro signing after lengthy transfer saga

Esperance Sportive de Tunis have completed the signing of Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa after negotiations over the 27-year-old’s move from Libyan club Al Ittihad went on longer than expected.

Ribeiro became a free agent after Cultural Leonesa were relegated from Spain’s Segunda Division last season. He had joined the Spanish club after forcing his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns, but his time at Leonesa ended with relegation and the expiry of his contract.

The Brazilian had subsequently agreed to join Al Ittihad, where he was expected to work under then-coach Rulani Mokwena. However, Mokwena’s departure led Ribeiro to reconsider that move, allowing Esperance Sportive de Tunis to enter the negotiations.

What followed was a complicated transfer process involving players from the Tunisian club. As discussions continued without an agreement, Esperance Sportive de Tunis sent a delegation to Libya in an effort to complete the deal.

The Tunisian club confirmed on Thursday that the transfer had finally been concluded.

“Last night, the vice president of the Tunisian sports club Esperance, Shakeri Al-Wa’ar, traveled to Libya to complete the procedures for the transfer of the Brazilian player Lucas Ribeiro to our club,”

“This morning, a meeting was held with a delegation from the Tunisian sports club, led by Shakeri Al-Wa’ar, and a delegation from the Libyan club, led by the executive director Abdelmajid Saleh, to finalize all the arrangements for this process.

“This is thanks to the Tunisian sports club, headed by the club president, Mr. Hamdi Madab, and his brother from the Libyan club, the Union of Libya, for their warm reception and treatment, which paves the way for further strengthening of relations and cooperation in the coming phase.”

The announcement ends a transfer saga that had taken Ribeiro from a proposed move to Al Ittihad to a new contract with Esperance Sportive de Tunis. At one stage, a return to Mamelodi Sundowns had also appeared possible.

Ribeiro originally left Mamelodi Sundowns in circumstances that led him to join Cultural Leonesa. Following Leonesa’s relegation, he was available as a free agent and became the subject of interest from more than one club before Esperance Sportive de Tunis secured his signature.

The transfer was eventually completed after the Tunisian club’s delegation travelled to Libya and met representatives of Al Ittihad. Shakeri Al-Wa’ar led the Esperance delegation, while Al Ittihad executive director Abdelmajid Saleh headed the Libyan club’s representatives during the final discussions.

Although Ribeiro’s move to Esperance Sportive de Tunis has now been confirmed, his legal case with Mamelodi Sundowns remains unresolved. The proceedings between the player and the South African club have not yet been finalised.