Nottingham Forest look to have got their hands on another Brazilian gem in Igor Jesus, the striker in line to move from Botafogo after the Club World Cup.
The forward has already scored twice in the FIFA tournament, including against Champions League winners PSG. NottinghamshireLive tells his story...
Growing up in Brazil, Igor Jesus would occasionally skip school - much to the frustration of his mother.
But it wasn’t an obsession with football that prompted the striker, who is in line to link up with Forest this summer, to miss the odd lesson. It was actually his love of Japanese anime, and specifically the television series Dragon Ball Z.
Jesus’ trademark goal celebration, which Reds fans have already picked up on and which has been a familiar sight at Botafogo games over the past 11 months, stems from his fondness for the franchise.
It is called the Kamehameha. Arms outstretched, hands cupped one on top of the other. It is a signature move in the Dragon Ball Z series, signifying the launch of a powerful wave of energy with the hands.
The gesture stuck in Jesus’ mind. After one particular training session with Botafogo, he talked to his wife about using it as a potential goal celebration. She responded by bursting into a fit of giggles, unaware of where it came from.
But Jesus stuck with it and unveiled his move shortly after his July 2024 switch to the Brazilian club. He scored a brace in a 2-0 win over Fortaleza and showcased his unique celebration. The rest is history as far as the forward, Botafogo and the Kamehameha are concerned.
Fans copying the gesture has been a regular sight at matches. One supporter even started going to games dressed as Goku, the main character of Dragon Ball Z, in honour of Jesus.
“I’m not sure if the Japanese cartoon Dragon Ball is popular in England,” Gabriel Rodrigues, who covers Botafogo for Brazilian publication Trivela, tells NottinghamshireLive. “But Forest fans should get ready to do the Kamehameha! That’s how Igor Jesus celebrates all his goals - and it became a phenomenon among Botafogo supporters.”
“It’s a way of showing who I am, where I come from and what motivates me,” Jesus told Brazilian publication Mix Vale last year. In a separate interview he quipped: “Now even my wife is doing it at home, she even lifts the sofa out of nowhere and does it. It's a good thing!”
With a bit of luck, the celebration will one day soon get an outing at the City Ground. Forest have had their eye on Jesus for some time. They tried to prise him away from his homeland in January but he decided staying at Botafogo was best for his career. “I think I could stay here a little longer,” the 24-year-old said at the time.
Arsenal wanted him back then, too. Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham United and Leeds United have also been credited with an interest in the player described as “the jewel in the crown” by South American football expert Tim Vickery on the Football Smash podcast.
Fast forward a few months and the Reds are now on the verge of getting their man. If all goes to plan, Jesus will link up with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side after the conclusion of the Club World Cup next month - and the hope is with teammates Jair Cunha and Cuiabano in accompaniment.
The South American market has been well utilised by Forest in recent transfer windows. The club’s head scout in that part of the world, Thomas Federspiel, has been at the centre of operations. He has previously spoken about the importance of a player’s mentality when identifying potential targets, as much as their technical qualities, in order to judge whether they can adapt to the Premier League.
Having monitored Jesus closely, the Reds are said to have been impressed with the Brazilian’s physical ability, his tactical intelligence and his work ethic. Amid reports of a five-year deal in the pipeline, there is also a belief the player’s best years are ahead of him and he can improve further.
“Igor Jesus is a modern centre forward who doesn’t just stay in the box, he actively contributes to the build-up of Botafogo’s attacking plays,” says Rodrigues. “He’s very intelligent and has great game awareness.
“He’s strong and fast, and very hardworking. He often drops deep to help in build-up play and frequently positions himself almost like an attacking midfielder, setting up wingers to attack the box. He knows when to slow down or speed up the game. However, due to his willingness to help the team, he sometimes ends up too far from the goal and doesn’t score as many goals as you’d expect from a top-tier striker.”
Jesus has scored nine goals in 37 league games for Botafogo - not prolific, but there is no doubt about the impact he has had. His spell with the Rio de Janeiro outfit looks set to be a case of short but sweet. He joined last July, on a free transfer from Shabab Al Ahli, and was a key part of the team’s subsequent title success and their Copa Libertadores triumph.
Jesus has described himself as someone who likes to “attack the spaces”. Rodrigues is in no doubt his style of play is suited to English football and that he can make an impact in the Premier League.
He says: “Since 2024, people in Brazil have already been calling him a ‘Premier League-type player’. Strong, fast, intense, intelligent. He’s ready to arrive and play for Forest.
Get breaking Forest news sent direct to your phone
Join our Nottingham Forest WhatsApp group and get the latest breaking news, interviews and opinion sent straight to your phone, plus matchday team news and live updates of all the action. Just click here and select ‘Join Community’ to get started. The only proviso is that you must have WhatsApp on your phone to participate. No one will be able to see your personal information and you will only receive messages from the NottinghamshireLive Reds writers.
We will not spam your WhatsApp feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily with the latest Reds stories. If you later decide to opt out, just go to the name at the top of your screen and click 'Exit Group'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. If you are curious, you can click here to read our Privacy Notice.
“He has had a short but impactful spell at Botafogo. He was virtually unknown in Brazilian football when he arrived in mid-2024. Initially signed to compete with Tiquinho Soares, he soon became a starter and was key in winning the 2024 Brazilian Championship and Copa Libertadores. This season, he’s become even more tactically important under coach Renato Paiva.
“Igor Jesus is a great character. His dedication on the pitch says a lot about who he is - very well-liked by his teammates. In a short time, he won over the fans and treats everyone with respect. He has a good personality, though he can seem a bit shy at times.”
For a sense of just how well respected Jesus is at Botafogo, his farewell appearance at the Nilton Santos Stadium spoke volumes. The forward had announced beforehand that a recent game against Ceara would be his final one at the club’s home ground, ahead of a “dream” move to the UK, and supporters responded by giving him quite the send-off.
A tifo was unveiled in the No.99’s honour and fans held up banners spelling out his name. Jesus appeared emotional when he made his way over after the final whistle to applaud the crowd. He waved a giant flag depicting his Kamehameha celebration.
“I have no words to express the immense gratitude and affection I have for you,” he posted on social media in response. “I will never forget your unconditional support. Thank you all so much!”
Defender Alex Telles told BolaVIP of his teammate after that game: “We know his quality. We hope he doesn’t change, we hope he keeps playing his football.
“He’s a sensational boy. He’s always very happy, he always plays a lot, but when it’s time to work, he works hard . We don’t need to comment on his quality. He’s getting there in the Premier League because of his quality and we hope he continues to be this wonderful boy.”
Able to play on either flank as well as up front, Jesus’ versatility will particularly appeal to Reds boss Nuno. But the Brazilian actually started out playing in a completely different position.
As a youngster, he took on the role of a goalkeeper and earned the nickname “little frog” thanks to some acrobatic saves. “He was very small and had a big head. So we gave him the nickname ‘Sapinho (little frog)’,” Jesus’ grandfather Jose Maciel Araujo once joked to Midia News.
The pair were very close, and it appears Jesus’ strength of character owes much to his upbringing. Fishing is part of the family’s heritage. Jesus grew up on the banks of the Cuiaba River and started cleaning fish at a market stall alongside his grandfather at the age of nine.
He tried out for Gremio and Flumenense before being taken on by Coritiba at the age of 14, leaving Brasil Central, a project in Cuiaba. It meant moving away from home at a young age. “Thank God he’s a warrior boy because living alone, away from the family, for all this time, is difficult,” Jose has said.
Jesus came up through the ranks at Coritiba, before turning professional in 2019. He went on to score seven goals in 56 league appearances for the club. The move to Shabab Al Ahli followed in 2020 and the striker had a record of 34 goals in 66 league games during his four-year spell in Dubai.
He has represented Brazil four times and has one goal to his name. That goal came against Chile, in October 2024, on what was his debut for his country. Spanish newspaper Marca declared he was: “The ‘9’ who conquered Brazil.” He was the first Botafogo player to score for the Brazil national team for 26 years.
It could all have been very different as, during his time in Dubai, Jesus reportedly had the possibility of becoming a naturalized citizen and playing for the United Arab Emirates national team. Instead, he left at the end of his contract and ended up returning to his homeland and has a dream of playing in a World Cup.
Jesus’ success has not come as a surprise to one of his former coaches, though. “He was always a goalscorer,” Igor Guerra, who worked with the striker in the youth set-up at Coritiba, told Correio Braziliense last year. “It was a matter of opportunity.
“His physique was impressive. He had good height and physical strength for the position. He played pivot, excelled in aerial play and finished very well. He created many opportunities, for himself and for those around him. His qualities indicated that he would go far.”
Will Jesus be a good signing for Forest? Click HERE to have your say