Mumbai City FC Sign Brazilian Attacking Midfielder Hadrian as Injury Replacement for Leonardo

Mumbai City FC have signed Brazilian attacking midfielder Hadrian Benavenuto Dos Santos as an injury replacement for Leonardo, adding another option to their squad as they look to improve their fortunes in the 2026-27 Indian Super League season.

The Islanders confirmed the signing on November 11, bringing in the left-footed midfielder following Leonardo's season-ending injury. The move is aimed at maintaining depth in the attacking department and ensuring the team has sufficient options for the remainder of the campaign.

Hadrian arrives with experience across several clubs in Brazilian football. Although he is a new addition to the Indian Super League, his career has taken him through different teams and competitions in Brazil, providing him with a varied professional background.

The signing comes at a challenging point for Mumbai City, who have struggled to find consistency in the opening weeks of the ISL season. The club currently occupy 11th position in the league standings, with two points from four matches.

A left-footed attacking midfielder, Hadrian has represented several clubs during his career in Brazil, including Ypiranga FC, Foz do Iguaçu, Cascavel, Atlético de Alagoinhas and Ríver AC. His career has also included spells with Santo André, Inhumas and Moto Club. In December 2025, he returned to Barcelona-BA, before securing the move to Mumbai City.

The midfielder's arrival gives the Islanders another option in the attacking midfield position. His left-footed profile adds a different dimension to the squad, while his experience across multiple Brazilian clubs provides the coaching staff with another player to integrate into their attacking plans.

Mumbai City will hope that Hadrian can adapt quickly to Indian football and contribute to the team's efforts to turn around its early-season form.

Hadrian: “I want to make the fans proud”

Speaking after completing his move, Hadrian expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and his determination to make a positive contribution.

“I am grateful for the opportunity and excited to be part of this team. I want to give my best every time I step onto the pitch, help my teammates and make the fans proud,” the midfielder said in a statement released by the club.

His immediate priority will be to settle into the squad, understand the team's requirements and build a partnership with his new teammates. With Mumbai City looking to improve their attacking output, the Brazilian will have an opportunity to make an impact as the season progresses.

Mumbai City Director of Football Sujay Sharma confirmed that Hadrian has been signed specifically to replace the injured Leonardo. “Given the season-ending injury to Leonardo, we have moved to get in Hadrian as a replacement, so that the team continues to have options and squad depth. We are hopeful Hadrian will give his all and contribute positively to help us get desired results going forward,” Sharma said.

The statement makes clear that the signing is primarily a response to an important injury setback rather than simply an addition to the squad. Losing a player for the remainder of the season can disrupt attacking combinations and reduce the options available to the coaching staff.

Hadrian's arrival is intended to address that gap and preserve competition for places in the attacking department.

Mumbai City's early-season results have placed pressure on the team to improve. With two points from their first four matches, the club currently sit 11th in the ISL standings. For a side with Mumbai City's recent achievements, the opening results represent a disappointing start. The Islanders won the ISL League and ISL Cup double in 2020-21, followed by the League Shield in 2022-23 and another ISL Cup in 2023-24.

The club will now look to use its squad depth and experience to improve its position in the league. Hadrian's signing provides an additional attacking option at a time when the team needs greater consistency and a stronger return from its forward play.

The Brazilian's ability to operate as an attacking midfielder could be important in connecting the midfield with the attacking line. However, his impact will ultimately depend on how quickly he adapts to the ISL and the demands of his new team.

The move to Mumbai City represents a new chapter in Hadrian's career and his first opportunity to establish himself in Indian football. For the Islanders, the objective is straightforward: replace an unavailable player, maintain attacking depth and improve results. Hadrian will be expected to contribute to those aims as the club looks to recover from its difficult opening run.

With the season still underway, the Brazilian midfielder has an opportunity to become an important part of Mumbai City's campaign. His performances in the coming matches will determine how effectively the club's latest recruitment move addresses the setback caused by Leonardo's injury.