The Lion City Sailors are delighted to announce the signing of prolific Brazilian striker Anderson Lopes from Japanese side Yokohama F. Marinos for an undisclosed fee, as the club continues its push to scale new heights both domestically and on the continental stage.

The 31-year-old has inked a three-year deal that will see him don Sailors colours through to the end of the 2027/28 Singapore Premier League (SPL) season. 

Anderson arrives in Singapore with an outstanding pedigree and a reputation as one of Asia’s top strikers. He finished as the J1 League’s top scorer in back-to-back seasons (2023 and 2024), and was a key figure for Marinos since joining the club in 2022. He netted 11 goals in his debut campaign to help the side clinch the J1 League title, before lifting the Japanese Super Cup in 2023.

His impact extended to the Asian stage, where he played a starring role in Marinos’ historic run to the final of the 2023/24 AFC Champions League (ACL). The following season, he finished as the tournament’s second-highest scorer with nine goals — ahead of marquee names such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Aleksandar Mitrović, and Ivan Toney — underscoring his ability to shine against Asia’s elite.

The 1.85m forward has racked up 101 career goals in the J1 League across stints with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, and Yokohama F. Marinos. His career also includes spells in K League 1 with FC Seoul and in the Chinese Super League with Wuhan FC, after beginning his professional journey in his native Brazil.

Known for his physicality, movement, aerial prowess and a venomous left foot, Anderson is expected to inject even more firepower into the Sailors’ frontline as the club embarks on a challenging season ahead — one that includes defending their domestic titles and mounting a serious challenge in the ASEAN Club Championship (ACC) Shopee Cup and the ACL Two.

“To reach 100 goals in a league as competitive as the J1 speaks volumes about his quality. But it’s not just about his goalscoring — Anderson is excellent at holding the ball up and just as capable of creating chances for his teammates. I’m confident he’ll be a tremendous asset to the team this season,” said Sailors Head Coach Aleksandar Ranković.

Sailors Executive Director Bruce Liang added, “The opportunity to sign a player of Anderson’s calibre was one we couldn’t pass up. He’s a proven match-winner with an elite mindset, and that’s reflected in his consistently outstanding performances at the highest level of Asian football. We’re excited to see what he’ll bring to the team.”

In a storybook ending to his time with Marinos, Anderson signed off with the winning penalty in the Yokohama Derby on 5 July — bowing out in perfect fashion after netting 81 goals in 157 matches across four seasons. Now, his sights are firmly set on helping the Sailors scale even greater heights on the continental stage.

“I’m thrilled to join the Sailors at such an exciting point in their journey. Their run to the ACL Two final last season really caught my attention, and I’ve been impressed by the club’s vision and ambition to elevate Singapore football,” said Anderson. 

“My objectives are clear: I’m here to contribute, to score goals, to win trophies, and to help the team make a real impact in Asia.”