Zenit advances in million-dollar negotiations to take midfielder Jhon Jhon from Red Bull Bragantino By Thiago Lemos
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Red Bull Bragantino and Zenit, from Rússia, intensified conversations in the last few hours to seal the definitive transfer of attacking midfielder Jhon Jhon, 23 years old, originally revealed by Palmeiras. The Russian club, which has been monitoring the player since the middle of last season, presented a formal proposal that reaches around 18 million euros, approximately R$118 million at the current price. The São Paulo team’s management is working to increase the fixed amount of the operation and guarantee even more robust financial compensation before officializing the exit of one of its main technical assets.
Negotiations advanced significantly after the São Petersburgo club signaled its willingness to include bonuses for milestones that could take the business to historic levels for Massa Bruta. Atualmente, the Brazilian sports scene is closely watching the development of this agreement, as Jhon Jhon has established itself as a fundamental piece in the coach’s tactical scheme after consistent passages in national competitions. The athlete even participated in the debut of Campeonato Paulista, scoring the decisive goal against Noroeste, which further enhanced his performance on the international market during the current transfer window.
- Initial offer of 18 million euros as a fixed amount for the purchase of economic rights.
- Possibility of additional bonus of 2 million euros based on performance targets at Europa.
- Request from Red Bull Bragantino for the total amount of 20 million euros to be guaranteed without variables.
- Change of stance by the São Paulo board after the rejection of a previous offer of R$111 million in December.
⚠️ Agora! Jhon Jhon is close to leaving Red Bull Bragantino and being sold to Zenit.
— Planeta from Futebol 🌎 (@futebol_info)January 15, 2026
The Russian club offered a fixed 18 million euros (R$114 million) + €2 million (R$13 million) in target bonuses.
Massa Bruta is still trying to get the offer to reach €20 million…pic.twitter.com/o4pLvUhxTl
Financial details and the midfielder’s appreciation in the European market
Zenit substantially increased the values compared to the last move made at the end of 2025, when Bragantino chose to keep the athlete in the squad for the start of state competitions. Naquele period, the football leadership of the Bragança Paulista team considered that the young attacking midfielder could still reach a higher valuation ceiling, which was confirmed with the new round of conversations. Russian interest is not recent and is part of a strategy to attract South American talent that the São Petersburgo club frequently adopts to maintain its hegemony in the local championship.
The board of directors of Massa Bruta understands that the player’s cycle in Brazilian football is close to an end, given the figures involved in maintaining a competitive squad and the financial sustainability of the institution. Caso the sale is completed for the desired 20 million euros, Jhon Jhon will enter the list of the biggest transfers in the history of the club from the interior of São Paulo, exceeding initial expectations. Lawyers from both parties are already reviewing the contractual drafts to avoid bureaucratic obstacles related to FIFA’s solidarity mechanism, which should benefit Palmeiras as a training club.
Probable farewell against Corinthians and exit rite
The clash scheduled for this Thursday, January 15th, against Corinthians, is seen behind the scenes as the last official commitment of Jhon Jhon wearing the Red Bull Bragantino shirt. The player trained normally with the group and should be used by the coach, but the advice is to be cautious to avoid injuries that could compromise the medical examinations scheduled for the weekend. The expectation is that the official announcement will take place by Sunday, allowing the athlete to travel immediately to carry out protocol procedures in neutral territory or in Rússia itself.
The São Paulo club’s technical committee is already working with the real possibility of losing the starter and studying names internally to make up for the creative absence in the midfield sector. Jhon Jhon stood out for his versatility, playing both centrally and on the wings, a characteristic that caught the attention of European observers throughout the previous season. The atmosphere at the training center is one of farewell, with teammates recognizing the professional opportunity that lies ahead for the 23-year-old on the international stage.
Negotiation history and the change in stance of Bragantino
Previously, Red Bull Bragantino was wary of negotiating its main talents with the Russian market due to financial and logistical restrictions imposed by geopolitical conflicts in the region. Entretanto, the bank guarantees presented by Zenit and the insistence of the athlete’s representatives weighed on the decision to resume negotiations definitively at the beginning of the year. The increase in financial support by almost 10% compared to the December proposal was the necessary trigger for the deal to be taken forward by the presidency.
- Constant monitoring by the Russians since mid-2025 focused on the athlete’s physical evolution.
- Strategic refusal of inferior proposals to force an increase in market value.
- The player’s decisive performance in high-pressure matches at the beginning of the São Paulo season.
- Accept payment terms in installments over short terms that favor cash flow.
The impact of Jhon Jhon’s departure will be felt immediately in sports planning, but the amount of R$124 million offers scope for new specific hires. The Red Bull franchise’s philosophy of buying young athletes and reselling them after technical appreciation proves, once again, efficient with this new commercial outcome. Torcedores await confirmation of the final values, hoping that the target of 20 million fixed euros will be reached to crown the midfielder’s time at Nabizão.
Jhon Jhon’s trajectory from Palmeiras to success in the interior
Revealed in the Palmeiras youth categories, Jhon Jhon was always seen as a promise with great potential, although he found little space for absolute ownership in the Alviverde. Sua transfer to Red Bull Bragantino allowed him the necessary minutes to demonstrate his dribbling ability and vision of the game at a high level. At the Bragança club, he matured tactically, becoming a player capable of deciding games in individual plays, as seen in the current championship debut against Noroeste.
The success of the negotiation also reflects the good relationship between the clubs involved and the athlete recruitment network that operates in the state of São Paulo in an integrated manner. Zenit, which already has other Brazilians in its squad, sees the midfielder as the missing piece to oxygenate the team’s creative sector in the search for continental titles. Adapting to the climate and physical playing style of Rússia will be the next challenge for the young man who leaves Brasil with protagonist status in the football market.
Technical perspective for the continuation of the São Paulo season
Without Jhon Jhon, Red Bull Bragantino will need to accelerate the integration of new reinforcements or promote base talents that are already asking for a place in the main team during Paulistão. The coach will have the mission of adjusting the team’s positioning without the technical reference that the midfielder provided, especially in quick counterattack transitions. The transfer market remains open and the board has already signaled that part of the money received will be immediately reinvested in qualifying the squad to compete in the Série A and international competitions.
The departure of a player of this caliber at the beginning of the year is always a logistical challenge, but the value involved is considered irrefutable by the standards of current South American football. The focus now turns to closing the contract, ensuring that all protection clauses for the selling club are fully respected. Jhon Jhon leaves a legacy of professionalism and important goals, marking his name in the recent history of successful transitions between football in São Paulo and Eastern Europe.
