Igor Júlio dos Santos de Paulo

Igor is a Brazilian centre-back born in Bom Sucesso on 7 February 1998. He developed in Brazil before moving to Europe in 2016, when he joined Red Bull Salzburg and was assigned to FC Liefering, making his professional debut that year. After loan spells in Austria, Igor moved to Italy and joined SPAL in 2019. He then signed for Fiorentina in January 2020, where he progressed into a regular defensive option. With Fiorentina, he helped reach the 2023 Coppa Italia and UEFA Europa Conference League finals. Brighton signed Igor in July 2023, and he made 33 appearances across the Premier League and Europa League in his first season. At Brighton, he has been used as a ball-playing defender, contributing progressive distribution while competing for his place in the centre of defence. His career reflects a route from Brazil through the Salzburg system and Italian football to England.