Bani Yas have strengthened hopes of avoiding an immediate relegation from the Arabian Gulf League with the loan addition of Boavista centre-back Robson.

The First Division League champions have been attempting to bolster their defence throughout the summer. They agreed a temporary deal for Austria Wien’s Abdul Kadiri Mohammed last month, only for the Ghanaian to fail a medical in Abu Dhabi.

Robson, 24, was made available by his Portuguese employers after an underwhelming debut campaign that featured only 13 Primeira Liga appearances. This leaves one spot remaining in the Sky Blues’ foreign quartet.

“Bani Yas signs with the Brazilian Robson de Paula on a loan contract, coming from the Portuguese league,” they tweeted. “Robson is currently in our training camp in the Netherlands where he signed the contract and will begin training with the first team.”

New coach Krunoslav Jurcic – a member of Croatia’s World Cup 1998 squad – has been well backed in the transfer market.

Ex-Netherlands Under-21 winger Leroy George was procured late last month after a stellar debut campaign at Melbourne Victory, that included nine goals and 14 assists on the way to lifting the A-League Championship.

Previously, Colombian midfielder Michael Ortega was bought from Deportivo Pasto.

New boy Robson spent 2016/17 on loan at Iran’s Esteghlal, playing 24 times in the Persian Gulf Pro League.

He also had a frustrating temporary spell at J1 League’s Kawasaki Frontale, where only one run-out was earned in the Emperor’s Cup.

The Itaguacu-native was attached to Bahia in his native Brazil from 2013-17. He played 47 league games for Bahiaco, scoring three times.

Bani Yas conceded a competition-high 70 times in 26 matches when they finished bottom of the top flight in 2016/17.

UAE and Emirates Club striker Ahmed Malallah, Al Wasl playmaker Ahmed Al Shamisi, injury-prone Al Jazira utility man Salem Ali and the rehiring of centre midfielder Fawaz Awana from Al Nasr headline this summer’s promising domestic additions by them.