 In 2004, he moved to Goiás, playing the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for the first time.His good performances helped his club finishing in 3rd place in the 2005 edition, the best position Goiás ever achieved in the top flight and qualifying for the Copa Libertadores for the first time in its history.Tabata was purchased by Santos in 2006, where he won twice the Campeonato Paulista in 2006 and 2007.