Alef (footballer, born 1995)

Alef (footballer, born 1995)
Alef dos Santos Saldanha (born 28 January 1995) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for São Bernardo Futebol Clube in Brazil
Club career
Early career
Starting his career with Ponte Preta in 2013, he joined Marseille B on a year-long loan with an option to buy.
Braga
In July 2015, Alef signed a contract with Braga, valid for the next five seasons.
Umm Salal SC (loan)
On 2 September 2016, QSL club Umm Salal has announced the signing of midfielder Alef from Portuguese club Braga. The player put pen to paper on a one-year loan deal. The signing of the 21 year old Brazilian, completes the Orange Fortresses quartet of professionals ahead of the new QSL season. Alef joins up with compatriot Anderson Martins.
Apollon Limassol (loan)
On 5 July 2017 he joined Apollon Limassol of the Cypriot First Division on a season-long loan.
In Cyprus, the Brazilian midfielder reminds the player who stood out in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand. By keeping the ball properly, hindering the attacks of the opponents, changing the game well and circling the ball from either the left or the right side. At the same time he demonstrates that he has a very good technical training, having overall a leading role in the middle line of Apollon Limassol throughout the year.
AEK Athens (loan)
On 14 July 2018, AEK Athens and Braga agreed terms for the loan move of Alef to the Greek champions, until the summer of 2019. Under contract at Braga, the 23-year old defensive midfielder spent the last season as a loanee in Cyprus, impressing with runners-up Apollon Limassol. Despite his strong performances with Apollon Limassol, Alef is surplus to requirements at Braga and AEK decided to pounce. According to reports, the reigning Greek champions have struck a deal with Braga, agreeing to sign Alef on loan for the upcoming season with the player holding a release clause of €2 million which can be activated next year.
On 20 January 2019, Alef netted with a tap in following Dmytro Chyhrynskyi's headed pass in a comfortable 3–0 home win game against Asteras Tripolis. It was his first goal in the league.
APOEL (loan)
On 26 June 2019, Brazilian defensive midfielder Alef, who spent the 2018-19 season on loan at AEK from SC Braga, has joined Cypriot champions APOEL. Reigning Cypriot champions APOEL released this announcement: “APOEL Football Club announces the agreement with Sporting Clube de Braga for the one-year loan of Alef dos Santos Saldanha with a purchase option. The footballer chose the number 95.” In AEK, Alef played in 36 games for AEK, registering the two goals. This summer, AEK had the opportunity to sign him on a permanent basis from Braga, but the club decided to let the 24-year-old go and APOEL subsequently pounced. This will be the second time when Alef has played in Cyprus. Back in the 2017-18 season, Alef played on loan at Apollon Limassol, competing in 36 matches for the club.
International career
Alef played at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup with Brazil.
References
External links
1995 births
Living people
People from Nova Odessa
Men's association football midfielders
Brazilian men's footballers
Brazilian expatriate men's footballers
Associação Atlética Ponte Preta players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players
Qatar Stars League players
Cypriot First Division players
Super League Greece players
Nemzeti Bajnokság I players
S.C. Braga players
Primeira Liga players
Umm Salal SC players
Apollon Limassol FC players
AEK Athens F.C. players
APOEL FC players
Fehérvár FC players
Brazil men's youth international footballers
Brazil men's under-20 international footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in France
Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar
Expatriate men's footballers in Cyprus
Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Expatriate men's footballers in Hungary
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in France
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Cyprus
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Hungary
Footballers from São Paulo (state)