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Igor Julio dos Santos de Paulo (born 7 February 1998), known as Igor Julio or simply Igor, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
Igor, 26, from Brazil Brighton & Hove Albion, since 2023 Centre-Back Market value: ₹136 Cr * Feb 7, 1998 in Bom Sucesso, Brazil.
- Brazil
- Bom Sucesso
Aug 10, 2023 · Igor Julio was working out when he heard Brighton & Hove Albion had reached an agreement with his Italian club, Fiorentina, over his move to the Premier League. The Brazilian defender’s delighted...
View the player profile of Brighton & Hove Albion Defender Igor Julio, including statistics and photos, on the official website of the Premier League.
- Overview
- How De Zerbi's style drew Igor to Brighton
- 'Great players learn lessons from defeats'
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Britain is in the midst of Storm Ciaran's three-day battering, but you will not see any signs of sandbags or flood barriers at Brighton & Hove Albion.
It is Wednesday afternoon at the American Express Elite Performance Centre in Lancing, but for the club's newest recruit Igor Julio, it is business as usual.
Come rain or shine, the smiling Brazilian centre-back with pearly white teeth and body covered from head to toe in tattoos is embracing his latest assault on the senses.
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Igor started out as a midfielder and aged 18, having already been on the books of Atletico Mineiro, he left his home for Austria without having made a single senior appearance.
Red Bull Salzburg were aware of his ability having impressed for Bragantino (formerly Red Bull Brasil) at youth-team level, but he would only play twice for his parent club in between loan spells with Wolfsberger and Austria Vienna before his next adventure in Italy with SPAL came knocking in June 2019.
Due to financial problems and the threat of relegation, Igor would join Fiorentina on a two-year loan the following January. It was here that De Zerbi - then manager of Sassuolo - became familiar with his ball-carrying skills, passing range and physical attributes.
"I always looked forward to the opportunity of playing against him," Igor recalls. "I always watched his teams as he played. But there is quite a difference between watching and practising.
"It's not difficult but the style of play needs a lot of attention. It needs a lot of personality to play.
"At first, I had difficulty with my team-mates' movements. From the moment to pass and the right moment to receive the ball. But I think that with work and with personality, you learn how to play.
Image: Igor was caught flat-footed as Jarrod Bowen scores
The Brazilian made nearly 110 appearances for Fiorentina in all competitions before Brighton paid £14.5m for the 25-year-old in July, signing him on a four-year contract.
He was one of the team's key players in the 2022/23 campaign but his time in Italy would end on a sour note.
Vincenzo Italiano overlooked him in the Coppa Italia final defeat to Inter Milan and, a fortnight later, Igor would be criticised by his manager for his role in Jarrod Bowen's late winner for West Ham in the Europa Conference League final.
Image: Igor made his Premier League debut against Liverpool
But those disappointments have only served to motivate the centre-back further to achieve more success at his new club.
Igor Julio speaks to Sky Sports about his pathway to the Premier League, working under Roberto De Zerbi and his dreams of playing at a World Cup. The Brazilian defender joined Brighton from Fiorentina last summer and has settled in well despite the cold weather and the manager's demands.
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- Ben Grounds
Jul 26, 2023 · Brighton & Hove Albion completed the signing of Igor Julio from Fiorentina. The Athletic reported last week that Brighton had agreed a €17million ($18.8) plus €3m in add-ons fee with ...
Jul 26, 2023 · The Brazilian defender, 25, has agreed a four-year contract with the Seagulls after Roberto de Zerbi turned his attention to him. He joins Brighton after they failed to sign Chelsea's Levi Colwill and has European experience with Fiorentina.
