Miami FC Bolsters Its Defense By Signing Central Defender Adailton

Stone Sports Management LLC (Columbus, Ohio) -  February 9, 2016

Stone Sports Management (“SSM”) is pleased to announce Miami FC’s signing of veteran defender Adailton Jose Dos Santos Filho (“Adailton”) to a 2-year contract with the 2016 NASL Expansion Franchise. The 32-year old Salvador, Brazil native most recently played with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire after a successful career in Brazil, Europe and Asia. Adailton obtained his US Green Card late in 2015 and will count as a domestic player.

“It is such an honor to have joined Miami FC and to play for Alessandro Nesta who for me is one of the best, if not the best, player at my position in the last two generations,” says Adailton.  “Last year was a great learning experience to understand North American soccer after playing in Brazil, China, France and Switzerland. I ensure to my teammates, the fans and coaching staff that I will bring hard work, discipline and a winning mentality to the club and do my best to help the club to make the NASL Playoffs and ultimately win the NASL Soccer Bowl."

Adailton joined the Chicago Fire after a six month stint back home in Brazil with Esporte Clube Bahia.  He acclimated well scoring a goal and earned Man of the Match versus the Philadelphia Union in his third game with the Fire.  Adailton started 20 matches and was statistically the best central defender on the Fire as the club gave up only 23 goals in the 17 MLS matches he played while giving up 35 goals in the games that he did not. An unfortunate Sports Hernia injury that developed two games prior to his last ultimately shut him down for the season even though he came back healthy enough before the last game of the year.

Prior to joining Bahia, he spent the previous five years in Switzerland with Swiss Super League side Sion FC (with two loan stints in China with Chinese Super League Henan Jianye and also with FC Chiasso in Switzerland).  At Chiasso, Nesta’s former Italian National Team teammate Gianluca Zambrotta coached Adailton and learned to speak Italian, along with his ability to speak Portuguese, French, Spanish and English.

Adailton boasts leadership qualities having first Captained the Brazilian U20 World Cup team helping them win the 2003 World Cup in Dubai. Brazilian giants Santos FC, Sion FC and FC Chiasso also elected Adailton Captain.  French Ligue 1 side Stade Rennais signed Adailton for three years after his impressive U20 World Cup and after he broke through as a first team regular at his local side Vitoria SC.  He then returned to Brazil with Santos FC signing for three years playing alongside Brazilian Superstar Neymar whom he shares a passion and friendship giving back to the Brazilian community through Social Projects and Charity. 

“Adailton is one of the most respected, well-liked persons that I have had the pleasure of working with, and I am extremely pleased that he has agreed to continue to play in North America with Miami FC after having enticing opportunities to return home to Brazil and in the Middle East,” says SSM’s President and Players’ Agent Justin B. Stone. “Adailton did not get enough credit last year for his performances in MLS due to his season ending injury and the overall team performance, but his quality will be well apparent once he gets settled with his new club and city."

This is SSM’s second client to sign with Miami FC after defender Mason Trafford signed earlier in the week. It is expected that both players will compete for starting positions and likely will line up next to each other in central defense or with Trafford employed on the left side with Adailton in the middle.

“I would like to echo my comments earlier in the week and thank Miami FC (Owners Riccardo Silva and Paolo Maldini, Technical Director Mauro Pederzoli, VP of Operations Darren McCartney and Head Coach Alessandro Nesta) for their patience and persistence securing Adailton’s services.” says Justin B. Stone. “I am confident that the club will be one of the best defensively in NASL, and the club is getting two outstanding persons."

Click HERE to see Miami FC’s 2016 NASL Schedule and follow Adailton on Twitter: @adailton_filho. All the best to Adailton with his new club!