Fortaleza Esporte Clube announced the signing of right-back Mailton on loan from São Paulo Futebol Clube until the end of 2026. Mailton was underutilized by coach Hernán Crespo at São Paulo and suggested to the board that he be negotiated for 2026. The player was presented as a reinforcement for Fortaleza and is expected to be a good replacement for Tinga, who left the club to play for Coritiba. And with his arrival, Fortaleza hopes to improve its offensive performance. Mailton is a right-back in good physical condition, with a lot of support for the attack, and was a standout player for Chapecoense, where he played in 30 games, scored seven goals and provided nine assists in the Catarinense and Brasileirão Série B competitions. Fortaleza's CEO, Marcelo Paz, celebrated Mailton's signing, highlighting his quality and the profile of the athlete that the club is looking for. But what caught attention was the speed with which Fortaleza acted to sign Mailton after Tinga's departure. So the expectation now is that Mailton will adapt quickly to the club and contribute to Fortaleza's success in 2026. Mailton played 10 games for Tricolor Paulista between Libertadores and Brasileirão last season.