Alefe Santos joins Eastleigh on loan

Eastleigh have bolstered their squad with the loan-signing of 21-year-old Alefe Santos from Derby County.

The Spitfires recently lost wide midfielder Adam Dawson, who has moved back up north to be with his fiancee and family. Dawson has since signed for Tranmere Rovers, so it is hoped that Santos will prove to be an ideal replacement.

A club statement on the official website read as follows: "The Club are delighted to have reached an agreement to sign Derby County winger Alefe Santos on loan until 2nd January 2017.

"Brazilian-born Santos started his professional career at Bristol Rovers, making 27 appearances in all competitions, before moving to Championship side Derby County for an undisclosed fee in 2014.

"Santos was born in Sao Paulo, before moving to England at the age of 12. The 21-year-old extended his contract with Derby County until 2017 last summer and has one Rams first team appearance to his name. He spent a previous loan spell with Notts County in 2015."

Speaking of his new signing, Eastleigh manager Ronnie Moore said: “If you can get the consistency, he’s got all you need from a winger. He’s quick, two-footed, he can play left side or right side.

“The thing when players come out of that under-21 league though is adapting to the rough and tumble of our league.

“(Derby boss) Steve McClaren has been fantastic letting him come to us. There are League clubs queuing up to take him, but he can’t go anywhere until January.

“Hopefully he will give us some options.

“I’ve seen him a few times when I was at Hartlepool.

“The thing about loan players is they can look a million dollars playing for their club, but it’s not tippy-tappy any more at our level, it’s grown men.

“If he come and plays well it could be ‘wow!” because he’s got great ability.”



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