Danilo leaves Dutch giants for a fresh start in Brazil

The 27‑year‑old Brazilian striker Danilo announced today that he is leaving the Scottish Rangers to join Brazilian side Botafogo on a one‑season loan, after previous Eredivisie stints with Ajax, Feyenoord, FC Twente and NEC. He will spend the 2024‑25 campaign in Rio de Janeiro, hoping to revive his career.

Rangers confirmed that Danilo remains under contract with the club until mid‑2028. The loan agreement contains a conditional purchase obligation, although the specific conditions were not disclosed.

Across his Eredivisie career Danilo amassed 92 league appearances, finding the net 30 times for his Dutch clubs.

In Scotland he failed to make an impact after departing Feyenoord, never scoring for the Rangers side.

During the 2023‑24 season he spent most of his time on the bench at NEC, starting only a single match. His sole goal came as an equaliser against his former club Feyenoord, a moment that highlighted his lingering quality.

The move to Botafogo marks Danilo’s first return to Brazil since his 2017 transfer to Ajax, where he had not featured in his home country for seven years.

Botafogo will have the player for one season, after which the conditional clause could trigger a permanent transfer, subject to terms yet to be announced.