Clayton Sampaio joins Fakel Voronezh on loan from Internacional

Brazilian club Internacional has reached an agreement to loan defender Clayton Sampaio to the Russian side Fakel Voronezh. The deal is a cost-free loan, with the Russian club holding an option to purchase the player in mid-2027 for $1.5 million.

Sampaio, 26, joined Internacional in August 2024 from Portugal's AVS and made 26 appearances for the club. However, he fell out of favor with manager Paulo Pezzolano, particularly following the signing of Chilean defender Maripán. Before the move to Russia, the defender reportedly declined offers from Brazilian Serie B clubs, including Ceará and Sport.