Santos FC faces FIFA transfer ban over unpaid Monaco debt

FIFA has imposed a transfer ban on Brazilian club Santos FC because the club has not paid a €2.032 million (about R$12 million) debt to AS Monaco for the 2023 signing of midfielder Jean Lucas. The sanction prevents Santos from registering new players for up to three consecutive transfer windows unless the debt is settled. An appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected, leaving the club with no legal recourse.

Santos’ management says the priority is to clear the outstanding amount and has outlined a financial plan that includes expected receivables of more than R$175 million, of which about R$129.7 million should arrive within the next year. The club also intends to rely on its current squad and promote players from its youth academy, which already supplied 11 youngsters for the last match before the season pause, to stay competitive while the ban remains.