FIFA Imposes Three-Window Transfer Ban on Botafogo Over Unpaid Almada Fee

Overview

• Effective Dec. 31, 2025, FIFA's listing bars Botafogo from registering players for the next three transfer windows.
• The case stems from the July 2024 signing of Thiago Almada for US$21 million, of which only two installments have been paid.
• CAS has issued a final ruling ordering Botafogo to pay US$21 million to Atlanta United.
• The ban stays in place until the debt is settled, while Botafogo says it agreed to a longer schedule and is pursuing U.S. litigation over a disputed 10% player entitlement that Eagle Football advanced.
• Botafogo says negotiations with Atlanta will resume after the year-end recess and says it hopes to lift the sanction early in January.