Aiman Nazirmuddin
Football Tribe Malaysia
Thai League top scorer Diogo Luis Santo has been officially moved to Malaysian Champions Johor Darul Ta’zim ahead of the 2019 season.
The move confirmed by JDT sports director Martin Perst in a statement on the club’s official Facebook page.
“We have been monitoring the performance of this Brazilian player. He played a key role for Buriram and has a good track record in Thailand, [having] won two Golden Shoe awards in four years. JDT believe that Diogo will be a good addition to the squad ahead of our first AFC Champions League campaign and the effort to defend the Malaysia Super League title. He also matches the style of football that JDT wants to play.”
Diogo’s presence has completed the quota of foreign players, after JDT also signed Spanish midfielder Aaron Niguez from Real Oviedo and Brazilian defender Maurício dos Santos Nascimento from Lazio. Captain Hariss Harun and attacker Gonzalo Cabrera were retained from last season to complete the foreign player quota.
Diogo, who starred for Buriram United from 2015 to 2018, is expected to strengthen the Southern Tigers’ attack lineup, especially in their upcoming Champions League campaign. JDT also has the chance to win their sixth consecutive league title. Perst added that JDT will hold pre-season games in Bangkok as part of their 2019 preparations.