Brazilian defender gains Vietnamese nationality, to play as local for Da Nang
Brazilian center-back Gustavo Sant Ana Santos has obtained Vietnamese citizenship at age 30 and will play as a domestic player for Da Nang in the 2025-26 V. League 1 season, the club said on Thursday.
Brazilian center-back Gustavo Sant Ana Santos (L) receives Vietnamese citizenship in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, December 11, 2025. Photo: Supplied
Santos, who will use the Vietnamese name Do Phi Long, received his naturalization documents at the Da Nang Department of Justice on Thursday.
The 1.95-meter defender, born in São Paulo in 1995, first arrived in Vietnam in 2019, according to Transfermarkt.
He has played for Viettel, Sai Gon FC, Song Lam Nghe An, Quang Ninh and Thanh Hoa, with a brief spell at Anápolis in Brazil in 2021.
He joined Da Nang on April 8, 2025.
Da Nang coach Le Duc Tuan said the naturalized defender will strengthen a back line for a team currently bottom of the top-tier V. League 1 table.
Santos has yet to make his debut this season despite being registered as one of five foreign players.
The club are restructuring their squad and are considering releasing South Korean defender Kim Dong Su.
Da Nang have seven points from 11 matches, scoring 10 goals and conceding 18.
Bao Anh - Quang Thinh / Tuoi Tre News
Link nội dung: https://news.tuoitre.vn/brazilian-defender-gains-vietnamese-nationality-to-play-as-local-for-da-nang-103251211170809017.htm