Nanissio Soares: Guinea-Bissau midfielder joins Ermis Aradippou on free transfer

Guinea-Bissau-born midfielder Nanissio Soares has joined Ermis Aradippou on a free transfer from AEZ Zakaki. The 34-year-old defensive midfielder has signed a deal running until 31 May 2027 with the Cypriot Second Division club.

Soares, who also holds Portuguese nationality, arrives after a season with AEZ Zakaki, continuing a long association with Cypriot football. Standing at 1.88m and operating primarily as a shield in front of the defence, he adds experience and physical presence to Ermis’s midfield options.

The right-footed midfielder has extensive game time in Cyprus, having made more than 100 appearances across the Cyprus League, its championship and relegation rounds, and the domestic cup. Earlier in his career he built his reputation in Portugal, featuring in Liga Portugal 2 and the country’s lower divisions before moving abroad.

Before his switch to Ermis, Soares spent spells with Pegia 2014, APOP Polis and ENAD Polis, all on free transfers, after leaving Olympiakos Nicosia in 2023. His consistency in minutes played across league and cup competitions has marked him out as a reliable option in the centre of the pitch rather than a goalscoring threat.

Soares began his professional journey in Portugal with clubs including GDR Portugal, Naval 1o de Maio, Trofense, Gil Vicente and Felgueiras, where he gained experience in both second-tier and regional competitions.

The move to Ermis Aradippou confirms another chapter in Soares’s long-running career in Cypriot football, tying him to the club for the 2026-27 season.