BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Legion FC announced on Monday it had signed forward Marlon Santos, pending league and federation approval.

“We're excited to add a player like Marlon to our team,” said Legion FC President and General Manager Jay Heaps. “He's a dangerous, attacking player that we tracked closely, and he will add a creative dynamic to our attack in Birmingham.”

Santos most recently played for fellow USL Championship club FC Tulsa for two-and-a-half seasons, scoring 17 goals and adding nine assists in 54 regular-season contests. The 26-year-old has also recorded 34 chances created and completed 65 dribbles in that span.

The Brazilian was named Tulsa’s ‘Offensive Player of the Year’ this past season after finishing 2021 with nine goals and five assists and helping lead the team to the USL Championship Playoffs for a second consecutive season.

“I am very happy to begin this new season with the Birmingham Legion FC family,” said Santos. “I hope I can do my best so we can be the champions. I am very happy and looking forward to this new season.”

A native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Santos got his professional career started with Brazilian club Nova Iguacu in Rio and went on to play for the likes of Bangu, Botafogo, and Madureira before moving to the United States. While he mostly was deployed as a winger with Tulsa, he has proven to be an effective attacking midfielder as well in his time in the USL Championship.