Mamelodi Sundowns will officially lose Lucas Ribeiro Costa with the player set to be unveiled at LaLiga 2 side Cultural y Deportiva Leonesa.
Costa, 26, stunned Sundowns by declaring himself a free agent via the Lassana Diarra, referring the matter to the FIFA Football Tribunal after the club rejected several bids for his services, from Qatar SC – whom he agreed personal terms with.
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There was interest from Brazilian Serie A side Fluminense after his impressive showing at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup but the move never materialised – while both clubs moved on to other targets.
Costa, acting as a free agent, has agreed to join Spanish second-tier side Leonesa, while his high-profile lawyer, Jean-Louis Dupont, recently told Spanish news outlet Heraldo de León that the verdict would be released within days, if not hours.
“The substance of the matter (referring to FIFA’s resolution of such claims) can and often does take time,” he said. “This cannot affect the player’s right to play for his new employer.”
“The RFEF or FIFA must, in order not to violate the Diarra ruling of the CJEU, allow the player’s registration. Furthermore, this is stipulated in the FIFA regulations themselves… in light of the Diarra ruling, on the merits of the case, Mr. Ribeiro has very good options. I cannot say more for now.”
iDiski Times has it confirmed by sources within Sundowns that they have made peace with the fact, that they player – who announced his exit from the club, will be joining the Spanish side as a free agent.
However, there remains an ongoing legal dispute in which Costa, who had three years remaining on his contract with Masandawana – over the potentially hefty compensation which will be due to the reigning league champions.
Costa won a clean sweep of awards last season with the Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season, Players’ Player of the Season, Goal of the Season, Golden Boot and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Goal of the Tournament.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).
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