Indian Super League outfit Odisha FC have announced the signing of Brazilian forward Jonathas Christian de Jesus for the upcoming season. The Juggernauts have made some wonderful signings this summer but this has to be the best of the lot.
Jonathas, 32 will come to Indian shores with bags full of experience having played in some of the best leagues in the world. He started his career in Brazil at the Cruzeiro youth academy. He later grew in stature and earned a callup to the senior team in 2006 and from there his actual professional career started. In Brazil, he has plied his trade for clubs like Cruzeiro, Ipatinga Futebol Clube and Vila Nova FC. In 2008 he decided to move out of Brazil and joined Dutch outfit AZ Allkamaar’s U21 team. There again he was impressive and gradually got a callup to the senior team. Since then he has moved around a lot of top clubs in Europe. He has plied his trade for Italian clubs like Pescara, Torino, Latino Calcio and Brescia.
In 2014, he joined Spanish outfit Elche CF on loan from Pescara after a fantastic season in Serie B for Latino Calcio. He did not disappoint in Spain as he netted 14 goals along with seven assists for Elche CF in the La Liga in the 2014-15 season. He impressed a lot of clubs in Spain and hence Real Sociedad came calling in 2015. He scored seven goals for them in the following La Liga season but was shipped out to Rubin Kazan in Russia. Jonathas also spent a year in the German Bundesliga featuring for Hannover 96 in the 2018-19 season. He later returned to Elche and scored seven goals in the Segunda Division before coming to Asia as he joined UAE’s Hatta club first followed by Sharjah Sports Club.
The Brazilian was delighted to join Odisha FC as he said, “I am very excited for this new challenge in my career. The project that Odisha FC showed me had a big impact on my decision. I am very motivated and I am looking forward to play in the ISL and achieve greater things with Odisha FC. Ama Team Ama Game!”
Head Coach Kiko Ramirez stated, “Jonathas has to be our goal scorer. He will give us work inside the pitch and he will make it very difficult for opposing defenders. In addition, he comes to the club with a lot of hunger and motivation to make a big impact in the ISL. Apart from his great character, he has a lot of quality, he is good in the air and he can create chances on his own.”
“We are thrilled to have signed a player of Jonathas’ quality and experience. His record speaks for itself, having played and scored in all the top leagues worldwide including Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga. Jonathas is a huge signing not only for Odisha Football Club but Indian football in general, ” Club President Raj Athwal commented on the new signing.
