The Lion City Sailors are pleased to announce the signing of Brazilian centre-back Hugo Gomes on a two-year contract, as the club continues to strengthen its squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Standing at an imposing 1.87m, the 31-year-old brings physicality, aerial dominance and composure to a Sailors backline that will be challenged on both the domestic and continental fronts next season.
A former Brazil Under-20 international, Hugo joins the club following a successful three-year spell with Vietnamese side Công An Hà Nội FC, where he played an integral role in one of the country’s most successful teams in recent years. During his time there, the club lifted three trophies across two seasons — including the 2025/26 V.League 1 title — and also finished runners-up in the 2024/25 ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup.
Hugo also brings a wealth of overseas experience, having plied his trade in Spain, Portugal, South Korea and Qatar. Remarkably, he won three consecutive Liga Portugal 2 titles between 2020 and 2023 with three different clubs — Estoril, Rio Ave, and Moreirense — and has amassed more than 100 appearances in Portugal’s second tier.
“Hugo is an experienced and accomplished defender who will add further quality and depth to our squad,” said Sailors Director of Football Luka Lalić.
“He has competed in different football environments and understands what it takes to perform consistently at a high level. His game intelligence, composure on the ball, and defensive qualities will complement the players we already have, while giving us greater competition across the squad. We believe he will be an important addition as we compete on multiple fronts this season.”
Having faced both the Sailors and fellow Singapore Premier League (SPL) side Tampines Rovers in continental competitions over the past two seasons, Gomes believes Singapore football is heading in the right direction and is excited to play his part in its continued progress.
“I’m someone who’s always motivated by new challenges, and this Sailors project is one I’m very excited to be part of,” said Gomes. “This is a club with strong ambition and a clear vision. I can see the hunger within the squad to keep improving and to help take football in Singapore to the next level.
“Singaporean clubs have shown they can now compete against some of the best teams in the region. The Sailors reaching the ACL Two final last year was a fantastic achievement, and Tampines have also produced some good performances in Asia. Those results show the quality that exists in Singapore football, and that’s one of the reasons I am excited by this opportunity.
“I want to bring everything I’ve learnt from playing in different countries to help the team continue growing. Our objectives are clear: to stay at the top domestically and to go as far as we can in Asia.”
