Norwich City are delighted to announce the signing of Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara from São Paulo for an undisclosed fee.
Sara has signed a contract through to the summer of 2026, with the club retaining an option of an additional year.
In signing for City, the 23-year-old will become the first Brazilian-born player to represent the club.
He will wear squad number 17 and ‘G. SARA’ on the back of his match shirts for the 2022/23 season.
Speaking to canaries.co.uk, Sara said: “I’m really excited to join Norwich City. This is a big moment in my career and I can’t wait to see what I can do on the pitch for this club.
“I spoke with the head coach, Dean Smith, who I am really excited to play for. He and the club have made me feel very welcome.
“It was always a dream for me to leave Brazil and play football in another country. I’ve been at São Paulo for nine or ten years now. I’m really excited for this new challenge.
“The training ground and facilities here in Norwich are magnificent and I haven’t seen anything like it before. I really can’t wait to get to work here.
“I feel I am a very intense player, who will fight for the team. When the opportunity arises, I go for goal.
"I’m looking forward to playing at Carrow Road in front of the supporters and want it to happen as soon as possible.”
Born in Joinville, Brazil, Sara progressed through the academy ranks at São Paulo before making his senior debut in the Brasileiro Série A in 2017.
Since then, he has gone on to feature in both of South America’s major continental competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
He departs São Paulo with 17 goals in 113 appearances in all competitions.
Head coach Dean Smith said: “We’re really excited to get the opportunity to work with Gabriel.
“He has an abundance of skills. He can create and score goals, but also cover a tremendous amount of distance on a football pitch. He wants to get on the ball and look forward, he makes really unselfish runs and is full of energy.
“When we spoke it was clear that he wants to get better and develop. That’s the sort of attitude and application we want at this football club.
“We also spent time talking about how I had worked with Wesley and Douglas Luiz at Aston Villa, and how they managed to break into the Brazil national team. It’s now up to him and the club to work hard and continue his progress.
“He knows he is coming to a club that will look after him and hopefully give him everything he needs to further develop. I expect big things from him.
“He’s in the latter stages of his recovery from injury, so I expect him to come straight back in and join the squad for training ahead of our first game of the season.”
The transfer is subject to international clearance and the granting of a work permit.