Leicester City fans were finally treated to the side’s first Premier League win since mid-November in a belting 4-2 win away to Aston Villa. A refreshed Foxes side featured starting debuts for three of LCFC’s winter signings.
Whilst Harry Souttar was the victim of an unfortunate own-goal, both Victor Kristiansen and Tetê caught the eye of supporters with their work rate and ability. It was Tetê’s sublime goal that put the visitors ahead 3-2 at half-time, his excellent touch and a cool head were on show as he rounded World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and slotted into a vacant net.
A goal to mark a debut and a performance to remember, Tetê has earnt the praise of fans, pundits, and – most importantly – his manager. After the game, Brendan Rodgers hailed the Brazilian as “what I have been talking about for 18 months – a right-winger that can take the ball, pass the ball, look after it, make runs and work.”
Adding to this, Rodgers told the press:
"“He knows football, he knows the type of game we were trying to play, his touch is immaculate. He has a good weight of pass but can run in behind. His finish was absolutely brilliant. He loves football off the pitch and he is super professional.” Quotes via The Independent"
With all the clamour and praise around him, fans are now giddily looking at how the Foxes can secure the winger’s services for good. Unfortunately for Leicester, the answer is a complex one.
To understand Tetê’s situation, we need to look at what is happening back at his parent club, Shakhtar Donetsk. After Vladimir Putin unlawfully invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian Premier League was suspended until its resumption in late August.
With the uncertainty and safety over the welfare of the players, clubs started suspending their players’ contracts as a way for them to leave the team and the country. This is exactly what has happened to Tetê at Shakhtar.
The club, a notable hotspot for Brazilian talent, had acquired his services from Grêmio in 2019 for only €15m but, with his contract suspended in 2022, he secured a loan move away to Lyon until the end of the 2022/23 season.
In France he made 30 appearances, scoring eight and assisting ten more. His performances caught the eye of Leicester’s staff as they began scouting their soon-to-be winger. Widely reported over the course of January, when the Foxes decided to pursue a deal for Tetê, they had to negotiate both with Lyon to cancel his loan, and then with Shakhtar over a move. Thankfully the deal paid off and he is here until the end of June.
So, what happens when his time at Leicester finishes? FIFA and the Ukrainian Premier League will conduct a review in the summer over the suspended contracts in Ukraine and how they should be resolved. As per LeicestershireLive, there are two conclusions to the review: either the contracts will be automatically terminated leaving all remaining players as free agents, or, the contracts will be reinstated effective immediately.
So, for Tetê and Leicester, either the Brazilian will leave LCFC as a free agent upon the expiry of his loan, allowing the 22 year-old to negotiate with any team he chooses, or he will return back to Shakhtar in the summer, with the Foxes needing to negotiate a transfer fee if they want to sign him permanently.
In both scenarios, there is a pathway for Tetê to join the club past the current season, but the way the Foxes can negotiate, as well as the wiggle room they can allow themselves, changes drastically. If Tetê were available on a free, the club would have to pay a significant signing on fee and would face considerable competition if they were to strike a deal.
If Tetê were to go back to Donetsk, the club would have to strike a deal with the Ukrainian side. Currently valued at around €25m, his value could continue to rise if he were to impress throughout his spell in the East Midlands. Shakhtar won’t want to undersell their Brazilian, but with his contract at the club expiring on December 31st, they may be forced to accept a lower price.
It is unclear whether the Foxes have a buy option in their agreement with Shakhtar, and how high a figure that buy option could be. There has also been speculation that Tetê may only be available from January 1st, 2024, if the Foxes were to sign him permanently in the summer.
Clarity will be provided as time goes on; at the moment there is simply speculation. For now, City will just be hoping that their first-ever Brazilian player continues to make history.