Kerala Blasters FC on Wednesday announced the signing of Portuguese forward Tiago Alexandre Mendes Alves ahead of the upcoming season.
The 29-year-old arrives from Japan’s J1 League, where he played for Tokyo Verdy.
While he can primarily play as a left winger, Alves can also play as a centre-forward and attacking midfielder, which will give Kerala Blasters tactical flexibility in the final third.
Alves began his football education in Portugal’s esteemed youth systems, passing through clubs such as Sporting CP, Académica Coimbra and OS Belenses before making his senior breakthrough with Varzim SC.
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In 2019, he moved abroad, signing for Olimpia Grudziądz in I Liga of Poland, where a strong run of form secured him a move to Piast Gliwice in the country’s top division.
His most productive spell came in Japan, where he flourished with Montedio Yamagata in the J2 league, recording 24 goals in 67 appearances in two seasons. Short stints with Botafogo-SP in Brazil and Tokyo Verdy in Japan followed.
«I am very excited to start this new chapter with Kerala Blasters and to have the opportunity to play while taking on a new challenge in Asia. I am looking forward to doing my best on the field, working hard and scoring goals,» said Tiago Alves after signing for the club.
Published on October 8, 2025
