Mumbai, 11 November: Mumbai City FC have signed Brazilian attacking midfielder Hadrian Benavenuto Dos Santos as a replacement for Leandro, who has been ruled out for the rest of the Indian Super League season with an injury.
The 30-year-old, who is left-footed, joins the Islanders to add creativity and depth to their attacking options for the remainder of the campaign.
A career in Brazilian football
Born in Foz do Iguaçu, Hadrian has spent his career in Brazil, playing for Ypiranga FC, Foz do Iguaçu, Cascavel, Atlético de Alagoinhas and Ríver AC. He also turned out for Santo André, Inhumas and Moto Club before returning to Barcelona-BA in December 2025.
‘We have moved to get in Hadrian’
Sujay Sharma, Mumbai City’s director of football, said the club had acted quickly after losing Leandro. “Given the season-ending injury to Leandro, we have moved to get in Hadrian as a replacement, so that the team continues to have options and squad depth. We are hopeful Hadrian will give his all and contribute positively to help us get desired results going forward,” he said.
Hadrian said: “I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to be part of this team. I want to give my best every time I step onto the pitch, help my teammates and make the fans proud.”
The Islanders’ record
Mumbai City, formed in August 2014, won the ISL League Shield and ISL Cup double in 2020-21, the League Shield again in 2022-23 and the ISL Cup in 2023-24. In 2022 they became the first Indian club to win matches in the AFC Champions League. The club play their home games at the Mumbai Football Arena in Andheri.
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