Linked to Olympique de Marseille since the start of the winter transfer window as a defensive reinforcement, Luiz Felipe has signed with the Marseille club until June 2026.

Olympique de Marseille has secured its first winter signing. Through a statement released this Tuesday on its social media channels, the club announced the arrival of Luiz Felipe, an experienced, strong-willed central defender with an impressive track record during his time at Lazio Roma from 2017 to 2022. After representing Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League for the past 18 months, the 27-year-old decided to return to Europe, officially joining Olympique de Marseille, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract, which will keep him at the club until June 2026.

“Olympique de Marseille is pleased to announce the signing of Luiz Felipe Ramos. A 27-year-old Italian international, the defender joined the team after successfully passing his medical examination,” reads the official statement published on the club's website. While this news marks a significant boost for OM and their coach, Roberto De Zerbi, who aims to strengthen the backline amid the challenges posed by Lilian Brassier's precarious situation, Bamo Méïté’s underperformance, Chancel Mbemba's absence, and the inconsistent displays of Derek Cornelius and Leonardo Balerdi, the signing didn’t come as a surprise.

During a press conference last weekend, ahead of the match against Le Havre in Ligue 1, the Italian coach hinted at the arrival of the international defender by praising his qualities: “We are very happy because Luiz Felipe is a good player for us, in terms of his character, quality, and experience. He has a big personality, which I think is enough to play in this incredible stadium. With his mentality and attitude, he can bring us a lot; it’s great news,” said Roberto De Zerbi.

With the praises of his new coach, it is now up to Luiz Felipe to prove his worth on the pitch and win over the Marseille supporters.