Botafogo confirmed the return of Tiquinho Soares on Wednesday, August 26. The 35-year-old centre-forward signed a contract through December 2026, joined on a free transfer and is already training with the first-team squad. The announcement turns the deal negotiated over recent days into an official signing. Talks over Tiquinho Soares’ return advanced after the striker became a free agent, allowing Botafogo to strengthen their attack without paying a transfer fee.

Short-term deal strengthens the attack

The contract covers only the closing months of the season. With Botafogo now focused on the Brazilian Championship, Tiquinho Soares gives the coaching staff another option at centre-forward for the decisive stretch of the competition. The club have not yet announced when the striker will be officially presented. Since he has already started working with his new teammates, the next steps depend on his registration and the coaching staff’s assessment before a possible debut.

Tiquinho begins his second spell at Botafogo

This will be Tiquinho Soares’ second spell at Botafogo. Between 2022 and 2024, the striker enjoyed his best season in 2023 and was part of the squad that won the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Championship in 2024. After leaving the club, Tiquinho Soares played for Santos and spent the first half of 2026 on loan at Mirassol. A free agent since July, he returns to the Nilton Santos on a short-term contract and to an environment whose pressure, supporters and daily routine he already knows.