Official: Lecce extends center-back Thiago Gabriel's contract until 2030

Lecce released a statement on Thursday confirming the contract extension with Thiago Gabriel. The new contract extends the original expiry date of next summer by three years, remaining valid until June 30, 2030.

Gabriel was born in Montauban, France in 2004 and moved to Portugal with his family at a young age. He played for the youth systems of Sporting CP, Vieira Setúbal, and Star Amadora, and made his first-team debut in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on August 31, 2024.

In January 2025, Gabriel joined Lecce from Amadora Stars for €1.25 million. As an outstanding representative of Portugal's new generation of center-backs, he has made 46 appearances for Lecce to date and scored 4 goals.

After finalizing his contract extension, Gabriel couldn't hide his joy and excitement: "Staying in Lecce means a lot to me and my family. I never think about transferring because it's not my priority, and the decision isn't in my hands. That's why I've always focused on Lecce's training and matches. I'm very happy to stay in Lecce, and so is my family."

When asked about his personal goals for the season, Gabriel did not give a direct answer. He only stated, "For Lecce, the only goal is to avoid relegation. That's the most important thing."

At the end of the interview, Gabriel highly praised and affirmed the Lecce fans: "As soon as we step onto the pitch, we can hear the support of the fans. Playing at home means a lot to us and is a special experience. All the teams that visit Lecce can feel the passion of the fans, and the atmosphere of every home game is amazing. We hope this momentum can continue for a season."

Image source: Internet/X