Player Info

Club – Botafogo RJ

Position – Centre Back

Age – 20 (07/03/2005)

Nationality – Brazil

Youth Career

Born in Sao Paulo, Jair began his footballing journey within the Santos youth system aged 10 in 2016. During his younger years, Jair operated primarily as a full-back or winger contrasting his current role as a centre-back. From young, Jair portrayed versatility accentuated through his ability to confidently use both feet. Constantly impressing throughout academy years, Cunha signed his first professional contract with Santos in 2021 lasting until 2024. Cunha’s journey to his current club Botafogo has not been easy. While playing in the Copa Sao Paulo de Futebol in 2023, he sustained damage to his cruciate ligament within the right knee, sidelining him for 10 months. During this time, his boyhood club Santos obtained promotion from Serie B to Serie A, lifting the title.

Present Career

As a result of Jair’s promising performances, recent Brazilian champions Botafogo expressed interest in Cunha’s availability. Leaving his boyhood club Santos, Cunha signed for Fogo on 10 February 2025, for a fee close to US$2 million contracted until 2028. Having only played 20 games for Botafogo, Cunha has drawn attention nationally and internationally, representing the Brazil U20’s on 8 occasions, whilst obtaining concrete links with a move to Nottingham Forest for a rumoured US$12 million fee. Recently, Cunha scored his first professional goal against Seattle Sounders at the Club World Cup, as well as defending a clean sheet against Champions League winners PSG. Despite his young age, Jair has displayed promising characteristics required to reach the top level. The combination of his domineering physical presence (6’6ft) alongside his comfortability in possession match the criteria required to become successful in Europe’s toughest competitions.

Statistical Data

As previously explored, Cunha is tipped for a move to Nottingham Forest. Murillo is another centre-back Forest recruited from the Brazilian Serie A. The graph above shows comparison in defensive statistics between Jair Cunha and Murillo during their time played in the same division. Both players draw similar characteristics presenting the potential Cunha possesses. Murillo has blossomed in Europe, aiding Forest back to European football whilst making his debut for Brazil’s senior team. If Jair Cunha were to join Nottingham Forest, history shows a rise through the ranks is achievable as Murillo exemplified.

Player Comparison

Jarrad Branthwaite – in terms of physicality, the pair resemble similarities through height and speed. Furthermore, the two are confident and capable with both feet, possessing high quality ball playing skills which are increasingly important within evolving tactical blueprints.