Transfers: Adriano Returns to FC Seoul

FC Seoul have secured the shock return of their former striker Adriano. The 32 year-old Brazilian has arrived back at Sangam four years after departing and will link up with manager Choi Yongsoo for the second time as the capital club look to make waves in the AFC Champions League after a two-year absence.

Former Daejeon Citizen and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors striker Adriano has re-signed for FC Seoul on a free transfer on a one-year deal.

The 32 year-old Brazilian has been without a club since departing Jeonbuk following an Achilles injury sustained in the Green Warriors’ FA Cup tie with FC Anyang last term which brought his 2019 campaign to a premature end.

After it was clear that Adriano would be ruled out of the entirety of the campaign, the Jeonju Castle hierarchy cancelled his contract by mutual consent and has been training in his native Brazil.

However, Adriano is back in K League after arriving in Portugal for FC Seoul's Algarve winter training camp last month.

After uploading videos to his personal Instagram story of FC Seoul's friendly match with Bundesliga 2 side Hamburger SV, which ended in a 1-1 draw, the prolific striker all but confirmed his return.

The Brazilian returned to Korea on 21st January with the rest of the team but fans were left to wait before an official announcement was made.

Since then Seoul were able to book their place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League, thanks to a 4-1 win over Kedah FA in the qualification playoff, and jetted off to Japan for a second winter training camp.

Adriano remained in Seoul to continue to train by himself whilst the club carried out a series of medical tests on account of the season-ending injury which he suffered last term.

However, with nothing untoward to report, and the Brazilian being Choi Yongsoo's number one target, Adriano officially re-signs for the club.

Speaking on his return to club, Adriano said: "Coming back to FC Seoul is like coming home. I am looking forward to seeing Seoul's passionate fanbase again and am busy preparing for the new season.

"I'll do my best to score lots of goals for the fans."

Adriano’s return marks the start of a second spell in the capital, just shy of five years after his first which began after departing Daejeon Citizen in the summer of 2015.

Whilst with Daejeon, Adriano helped fire the Purples to the K League Challenge title in 2014 and finished the season as MVP and Golden Boot winner with 27 goals from 32 appearances.

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Following promotion, Adriano remained with the Purple Arena momentarily and scored seven goals in the K League Classic (K League 1), including a brace away to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in a 2-1 win in April that year, before being allowed to depart on a free transfer a few months later, believed to be linked to the sacking of the late Cho Jinho.

After swapping Chungcheong Province for the Korean capital, Adriano went on to bag eight league goals in the red and black of FC Seoul, and two in the FA Cup including an 88th minute strike in the 3-1 against Incheon United in the final.

The following season Adriano found the net 30 times, 17 times in the league and a record 13 times in the AFC Champions League, as Seoul made it to the semi-finals, eventually losing to Jeonbuk who he would later join in 2018.

However, a move to China would follow in 2017 with second tier side Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.

Whilst in Hebei, Adriano scored 10 goals and provided six assists from 24 appearances overall before returning to K League with Jeonbuk.

At Jeonju Castle, Adriano picked up another K League winners medal and featured 35 times, scored 16 goals, and laid on four assists during his time in Jeonju.

Adriano will add some much needed fire power to Seoul’s attack which struggled in the absence of Aleksandar Pešić last season.

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