BRAZILIAN defender Cleberson Souza Santos Gois has signed with Wellington Phoenix FC, completing the new Hyundai A-League club’s Latin flavour.

The one-year deal with the 29-year-old completes the Phoenix’s four foreign signings for the 2007/08 Hyundai A-League season, with the former Sao Paulo and PSV back joining fellow Brazilians Daniel Lins Cortes, George Dos Santos Paladini and Felipe De Souza Campos in the squad.

The central defender, who goes by his playing name Cleberson, will add steel to the Phoenix’s back line.

“He’s an uncompromising defender who’s played for some very good clubs,” said Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert.

“I think he’ll add stability and solidity and act as that central spine. He’ll play in the middle at the back as a central defender. His quality lies in his strength.

“He’s very good in the air and I think he’ll be complementary to the other signings we’ve made, certainly among younger guys such as Steven Old and Steven O’Dor.”

The 1.86m, 82kg Cleberson has previously played for Brazilian clubs Cabofriense, Botafogo and Sao Paulo, as well as PSV in the Netherlands.

With only four foreign players permitted in each Hyundai A-League squad, Herbert said he had sought high-calibre South American talent.

“I looked at the league holistically - where it’s going to, where it’s driving to - and the impact and the difference that players from different cultures can bring.

“As this competition goes along it’ll be interesting to see the dynamics that other A-League clubs use from a foreign quota perspective and a very high percentage of players are coming out of South America, whether they’re from Brazil, Argentina, Chile or Costa Rica.

“I think they’re players that offer a lot of skill and flair and enjoy expressing themselves on the field. If you get the balance right then it’s quite a dynamic ingredient to have.”

Herbert is yet to sign two mandatory under-20 players in his 23-man squad. He will leave a spot open for another Australian or Kiwi player but has already identified the type of player he is after.

“The final spot will almost certainly be a defensive role and probably on either side - right back or left back.”

With the majority of the squad now locked in, Herbert said he was pleased with how things were shaping up.

“I’m extremely happy. It’s quite exciting and it’ll be great to have everyone here.”

The signing of Cleberson brings to 20 the number of players signed by the Phoenix to date. Other signings so far are Ross Aloisi, Costa Barbarouses, Tim Brown, Royce Brownlie, George Dos Santos Paladini, Felipe De Souza Campos, Jeremy Christie, Daniel Lins Cortes, Vaughan Coveny, Karl Dodd, Michael Ferrante, Richard Johnson, Vince Lia, Tony Lochhead, Glen Moss, Steven O'Dor, Steven Old, Mark Paston and Shane Smeltz.

Cleberson, George and Felipe are expected to join their Phoenix teammates in Wellington early next month.

CLEBERSON

Full name: Cleberson Souza Santos Gois
Date of birth: 10/2/1978 (29 years)
Height, weight: 1.86m, 82kg
Playing position: Defender
Club history: Cabofriense (RJ) 2005-07; Botafogo (RJ) 2002-04; PSV (Netherlands) 2000-2001; Sao Paulo (SP) 1998-99.
Hyundai A-League statistics: None.

Notes: Brazilian defender who is extremely strong in the air and at set-pieces. A strong tackler with an eye for intercepts.