Lucas Ribeiro: Former Mamelodi Sundowns Star Joins Amid Links With Return to Masandawana
- Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Lucas Ribeiro Costa has secured a move to Tunisian football powerhouse Esperance Sportive de Tunis
- Ribeiro Costa had initially signed with Libyan giants Al-Ittihad Tripoli after leaving his former club in Spain as a free agent this summer
- The South American attacker's switch to Esperance is part of a swap deal involving Jacques Diarra moving to Libyan side Al-Ittihad Tripoli
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Former Mamelodi Sundowns and PSL standout Lucas Ribeiro Costa has completed a move to North African giants Esperance Sportive de Tunis, ending months of speculation about where the Brazilian attacker would land.
Esperance confirmed the transfer on Thursday in an official club statement, revealing that vice president Shakeri Al-Wa'ar had travelled to Libya to finalise the paperwork in person.
From Libya to Tunisia: Ribeiro's unexpected switch
The left-footed forward had initially put pen to paper with Libyan top-flight club Al-Ittihad Tripoli following his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of last season.
His stay in Libya proved short-lived, however, after coach Rulani Mokwena, who had been a key figure in recruiting him to the club, departed. With Mokwena gone, Ribeiro Costa reconsidered his options and ultimately agreed to join Esperance.
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The transfer is structured as a swap deal, with French midfielder Jacques Diarra heading in the opposite direction to Al-Ittihad Tripoli as part of the arrangement. Ribeiro Costa has signed a three-year contract with the Tunisian club.
Esperance statement confirms Ribeiro's deal
In their official announcement, Esperance described the negotiations as a joint effort between the two clubs. The Tunisian side confirmed that representatives from both teams had met to complete the necessary arrangements for the deal.
Esperance said the meeting involved a delegation from the Tunisian club led by Shakeri Al-Wa’ar and representatives of the Libyan side headed by executive director Abdelmajid Saleh.
The club also credited president Hamdi Madab with helping facilitate the agreement and praised the warm reception from their Libyan counterparts. Esperance said the positive engagement could help strengthen relations and cooperation between the two clubs in the future.
Ribeiro Costa had attracted interest from several African clubs after becoming a free agent, with his technical ability and experience in South African football making him an appealing target across the continent.
Bafana star leaves Sundowns for PSL rivals
Briefly News also reported that a Bafana Bafana star has decided to leave Mamelodi Sundowns for the second season running for Premier Soccer League rivals.
The South African international is one of the few players leaving the CAF Champions League champions this summer ahead of the 2026-27 season.
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Source: Briefly News
