Alef (footballer)
 Alef with AEK Athens in August 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Alef dos Santos Saldanha | ||
| Date of birth | 28 January 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Nova Odessa, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | AEK Athens (on loan from Braga) | ||
| Number | 95 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2015 | Ponte Preta | 19 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | → Marseille B (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2015– | Braga | 7 | (0) |
| 2016–2017 | → Umm Salal (loan) | 17 | (1) |
| 2017–2018 | → Apollon Limassol (loan) | 28 | (1) |
| 2018– | → AEK Athens (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2015 | Brazil U20 | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23:45, 15 September 2018 (UTC) | |||
Alef dos Santos Saldanha (born 28 January 1995) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for AEK Athens, on loan from Braga.
Club career
Early career
Starting his career with Ponte Preta in 2013, he joined Marseille B on a year-long loan with an option to buy.[1]
Braga
In July 2015, Alef signed a contract with Braga,[2] valid for the next five seasons.
Umm Salal SC (loan)
On 2 September 2016, QSL club Umm Salal has announced the signing of midfielder Alef from Portuguese club Braga. The player put pen to paper on a one year loan deal. The signing of the 21 year old Brazilian, completes the Orange Fortresses quartet of professionals ahead of the new QSL season. Alef joins up with compatriot Anderson Martins.[3]
Apollon Limassol (loan)
On 5 July 2017 he joined Apollon Limassol of the Cypriot First Division on a season-long loan.[4] In Cyprus, the Brazilian midfielder reminds the player who stood out in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. By keeping the ball properly, hindering the attacks of the opponents, changing the game well and circling the ball from either the left or the right side. At the same time he demonstrates that he has a very good technical training, having overall a leading role in the middle line of Apollon Limassol throughout the year.[5]
AEK Athens (loan)
On 14 July 2018, AEK Athens and Braga agreed terms for the loan move of Alef to the Greek champions, until the summer of 2019. Under contract at Braga, the 23-year old defensive midfielder spent the last season as a loanee in Cyprus, impressing with runners-up Apollon Limassol. Despite his strong performances with Apollon Limassol, Alef is surplus to requirements at Braga and AEK decided to pounce. According to reports, the reigning Greek champions have struck a deal with Braga, agreeing to sign Alef on loan for the upcoming season with the player holding a release clause of €2 million which can be activated next year.[6][7][8]
International career
Alef played at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Brazil.
References
- ↑ "Alef Dos Santos Saldanha : un pari sur l'avenir" (in French). Olympique Marseille. Archived from the original on 2015-01-02. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ↑ "Alef é Gverreiro por cinco temporadas" [Alef is Gverreiro for five seasons] (in Portuguese). SC Braga. 8 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2015-07-09. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
- ↑ Alef signs on with Umm Salal
- ↑ Ανακοίνωσε Ντο Σάντος από Μπράγκα
- ↑ «Ο Άλεφ βοήθησε τον Απόλλωνα και ο Απόλλωνας τον ‘Αλεφ».
- ↑ Έκλεισε Αλέφ η ΑΕΚ
- ↑ Αυγουστή: «Τυχερή η ΑΕΚ, άρχοντας και διαμάντι ο Αλεφ»
- ↑ Αλεφ: Ένα χαφ made in Brazil που «δένει» το κέντρο της ΑΕΚ
