João Silva (footballer, born 1999)

João Pedro Eira Antunes da Silva (born 14 January 1999) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a defender for Belgian club Kortrijk.

João Silva
Silva with Sporting U19 in 2018
Personal information
Full nameJoão Pedro Eira Antunes da Silva
Date of birth (1999-01-14) 14 January 1999 (age 25)
Place of birthBraga, Portugal
Height1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)Defender
Team information
Current team
Kortrijk
Number44
Youth career
2009–2015Braga
2014–2015→ Palmeiras Braga (loan)
2015–2020Sporting
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2020–2021Sporting B11(0)
2020–2021Sporting0(0)
2021–2022Alavés0(0)
2021–2022Istra 1961 (loan)40(1)
2022–Kortrijk52(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 March 2024

Career

Born in Braga, Silva began as a youth at hometown club S.C. Braga before moving to Sporting CP's academy in 2015. He began playing senior football for the B-team in the Campeonato de Portugal in 2020–21. He was one of several players called up to the first team in September 2020 for a UEFA Europa League third qualifying game at home to Aberdeen, due to a COVID-19 outbreak;[1] he was unused in the 1–0 win on 24 September.[2] The following 15 January, he had his one Primeira Liga call-up, remaining on the bench for a 1–1 draw with Rio Ave F.C. at the Estádio José Alvalade.[3]

In January 2021, Silva transferred to NK Istra 1961 in the Croatian top league,[4] on loan from Spanish club Deportivo Alavés, under the same ownership.[5] He totalled 44 games, but was unused in their 6–3 loss to GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the cup final on 19 May; his first senior goal came on 2 October to open a 6–3 home loss to local rivals HNK Rijeka.[6]

On 15 July 2022, Silva signed a three-year deal with K.V. Kortrijk in the Belgian First Division A.[7]

References