Name: Claudemir
Club: FC København
Debut: 24 July 2010 v Esbjerg fB
Position: Midfielder
Nationality: Brazilian
Date of birth: 27/03/88

Aged 22, Brazilian midfielder Claudemir has already asserted himself as one of Danish titleholders FC København's best signings in recent years. Having started his career with São Carlos FC in his homeland, and after making 76 Eredivisie appearances for Vitesse, Claudemir earned a move to FCK last summer. A perfect fit from the off, club and player have gone from strength to strength ever since.

Slotting in alongside William Kvist, he has helped form one of the most effective central midfield partnerships in the Danish Super League. The departure of Atiba Hutchinson – an FCK stalwart for more than four seasons – for PSV Eindhoven last summer, has, thanks to Claudemir, barely made a dent.

His impact has been as keenly felt in Europe as it has on the domestic scene. A starter in all six of FCK's UEFA Champions League group stage fixtures, Claudemir now has his sights trained on Chelsea FC in the round of 16. Industrious and a fine reader of play, with the distribution to match, he also has goals in his game, having struck the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against FC Barcelona on Matchday 4.

Breakthrough game
Esbjerg fB 1-2 FC København
24/07/10, Danish Super League
On his FCK debut, and playing on the right of midfield rather than in his preferred central role, Claudemir nevertheless made an instant impression. His fleet-footed style combined with accurate passing and a versatility between defence and attack made it clear that the young Brazilian would slot seamlessly into life in Copenhagen.

He says:
"FCK is a step forward for me. It is a very big club who are a famous name all over Europe. It's a team I really want to work hard for in order to win titles and get good results in Europe. It is an extra plus for me that the club is in the Champions League."

They say:
"I would have to classify the signing of Claudemir as one the best transfers I have ever been involved in."
FCK head coach Ståle Solbakken

"With Claudemir we have got ourselves a strong midfielder, who runs a lot, possesses a lot of football intelligence, can make decisive passes, and who can play at both ends of the field."
FCK sporting director Carsten V Jensen

"He is a more technically gifted version of his colleague in central midfield, William Kvist."
FCK defender Mathias Zanka Jørgensen