Superlega 2024/25

Darlan to spearhead Rana Verona next season

The Brazilian opposite is the latest addition to Fabio Soli’s squad

Published 03:54, 10 Jun 2025

Italy (ITA) vs. Brazil (BRA) men - Pool B #18181729

Brazilian international striker Darlan Souza joined the first foreign club in his career. He will play for Italy’s Rana Verona as of next season on a two-year contract.

The talented 22-year-old opposite was Verona’s second major acquisition and will have the opportunity to take full advantage of American setter Micah Christenson’s magic touch, as the latter also joined the club earlier this off-season. In between, Verona’s new head coach Fabio Soli secured the services of 25-year-old Italian opposite Fabrizio Gironi, coming in from Gioiella Prisma Taranto, and 19-year-old middle blocker Marco Valbusa, promoted from the club’s youth section to the senior team.

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Darlan, currently on the Brazilian national team for its VNL 2025 debut in Rio de Janeiro, spent the previous six seasons competing for Sesi Bauru, winning several podium spots in various domestic and continental competitions, including the Brazilian Superliga championship title in 2024, garnished with an individual Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 1.92m-tall attacker. As a member of the national team, Darlan won bronze at the last FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship in 2022 and Pan American Games gold in 2023. He also took part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“I am very happy and excited to start this new adventure with Rana Verona,” Darlan told veronavolley.it. “For me, it is a big step – my first club outside Brazil, my first season in Italy. I have heard so much about the SuperLega, the very high level and the incredible atmosphere at the venues. I can't wait to meet my new teammates, work with the staff and give my best for the team and the fans. It will be a stimulating challenge and I will do my best to help the team reach its goals.”

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“We are very excited to welcome Darlan Souza to the Rana Verona family. He is a young and talented player. We have carefully followed his growth and we strongly believe in his potential,” said Rana Verona president Stefano Fanini. “The arrival of a player, highly sought after and with great prospects like him, who has chosen to undertake his first experience in Europe with us, represents a clear signal of the credibility and appeal that our project has achieved also at a global level. With his enthusiasm and his explosive athletic qualities, we are sure that he will be able to make a significant contribution to the team, bringing energy and new solutions to the court, and firing up our fans.”