Turkish giant Halkbank (Ankara) officially announced the signing of Brazilian opposite Darlan Souza for the 2026/2027 season. Thus, one of the most promising attackers in world volleyball will become a teammate of Bulgarian international Denis Bardarov in the Turkish club's squad. According to some publications, the Turkish club paid 1 million dollars for the transfer.
22-year-old Darlan Souza is among the leading figures in the Brazilian national team and arrives in Ankara after two seasons in the Italian SuperLega with Rana Verona, where he played under the guidance of Radostin Stoychev. Now the Brazilian will once again be part of a squad coached by the Bulgarian specialist.
The Brazilian's career began at Fluminense, after which he spent several successful years at SESI Bauru. His strong performances in his home country opened doors to one of the strongest leagues in the world – the Italian Serie A, where he defended the colors of Verona for the past two seasons.
Darlan already has significant successes with the Brazilian national team. His accolades include a bronze medal from the 2022 World Championship, bronze from the 2025 Nations League, gold from the 2023 Pan American Games, and a title from the 2018 South American U19 Championship.
With the signing of Darlan Souza, Halkbank adds another significant offensive force to its squad. The Turkish club continues to build an ambitious team for the new season, and Bulgarian outside hitter Denis Bardarov will have the opportunity to play side-by-side with one of the new stars of Brazilian volleyball.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
