Leicester City have signed Brazilian winger Tete from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk until June.
The 22-year-old had been on loan at French side Lyon since March 2022 following the suspension of his contract with Shakhtar.
World governing body Fifa ruled foreign players in Ukraine could suspend their contracts until June 30, 2023 following the invasion of the country by Russia.
Leicester say the striker is “currently due to return to Shakhtar on July 1”.
Tete, who made 30 appearances for Lyon with eight goals and 10 assists, remains under contract at Shakhtar until the end of 2023.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Tete said after arriving at the King Power Stadium.
“I took a look at the pitch and the stadium, it’s beautiful and I can already imagine what it will be like with a lot of fans.
“I hope to score a lot of goals and assists. I hope they will all be happy to see me play, I’m happy to be a Fox.”
Leicester are 14th in the Premier League but only one point above the relegation zone.
“Tete will add style, threat and goals” – analysis
Owynn Palmer-Atkin, BBC Radio Leicester
Tete becomes Leicester’s second January signing. The deal only lasts six months – and there’s a complicated reason behind that
Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he was able to sign for Lyon until the end of the season. Leicester essentially bought him out of that deal, but he still has a contract with Shakhtar Donetsk until December 31 this year.
This means that the Foxes will have to renegotiate their first Brazilian player again this summer, if they want to sign him permanently.
Alternatively, they could sign him on a pre-contract deal for free this summer – but he could only join after his deal with Shakhtar expires on December 31.
He will add much-needed flair, threat and goals to the forward line as the Foxes prepare for a relegation battle.
Perhaps more importantly, he will be able to play on the right wing which will free up playmaker James Maddison to return to midfield. This could be key to the rest of the season for Leicester.
