William Carvalho

This article is about the Portuguese footballer. For the Brazilian volleyball player, see William Silva (volleyball).
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is de Carvalho.

William Carvalho
Carvalho with Portugal at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup
Personal information
Full name William Silva de Carvalho[1]
Date of birth (1992-04-07) 7 April 1992 (age 32)[1]
Place of birth Luanda, Angola
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Betis
Number 14
Youth career
2003–2004 Algueirão
2004–2005 Mira Sintra
2005–2011 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2018 Sporting CP 143 (10)
2011 → Fátima (loan) 13 (3)
2012–2013 → Cercle Brugge (loan) 47 (3)
2018– Betis 162 (8)
International career
2007–2009 Portugal U17 25 (5)
2008–2010 Portugal U18 8 (1)
2010–2011 Portugal U19 9 (2)
2012 Portugal U20 3 (0)
2012–2015 Portugal U21 15 (2)
2013–2022 Portugal 80 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Winner 2016 France
UEFA Nations League
Winner 2019 Portugal
FIFA Confederations Cup
Third place 2017 Russia
UEFA European Under-21 Championship
Runner-up 2015 Czech Republic
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:41, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

William Silva de Carvalho ComM (born 7 April 1992) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for La Liga club Real Betis.

He spent most of his career with Sporting CP since making his debut with the first team at age 18, going on to appear in 193 competitive matches and win the 2015 Taça de Portugal. In 2018 he signed with Betis, where he totalled 213 games and won the 2022 Copa del Rey.

A full international for Portugal since 2013, Carvalho represented the nation at three World Cups and two European Championships, winning the 2016 edition of the latter tournament.

Early life

Born in Luanda, Carvalho moved to Portugal when he was just a few years old. His grandfather Praia and his uncle Afonso were also footballers and played for Angolan club Progresso Associação do Sambizanga.[3]

Club career

Sporting CP

After moving to Portugal, Carvalho first started playing in the streets and was eventually recruited by Recreios Desportivos de Algueirão. In 2004, he joined União Sport Clube de Mira Sintra, where he was the youngest player in the squad and also their captain.[3] He joined Sporting CP's youth system at age 13, making his official debut with the first team on 3 April 2011 by playing injury time in a 1–1 away draw against Vitória S.C. in the Primeira Liga,[4] then spent six months on loan to C.D. Fátima in the third division.[5]

Still under contract to the Lisbon side, Carvalho played one and a half seasons on loan with Cercle Brugge K.S.V. in the Belgian Pro League starting from January 2012, featuring alongside several Sporting teammates who were there on the same basis.[6] His first professional goal came on 7 April in a 6–4 home win over Oud-Heverlee Leuven,[7] and a year later he helped the team to the final of the Belgian Cup, where they lost 2–0 to K.R.C. Genk at the King Baudouin Stadium.[8]

Carvalho returned for the 2013–14 campaign, being a defensive mainstay for newly appointed coach Leonardo Jardim[9] and scoring his first goal for the side on 27 October, netting the 1–1 equaliser in an eventual 3–1 defeat at FC Porto.[10] During the following summer, he caught the attention of several European clubs, with Arsenal having their £13 million plus Joel Campbell offer rejected.[11] Sporting only acquired the totality of Carvalho's rights in November 2014, with third-party ownership adding to the difficulties of any possible deal.[12]

Carvalho began 2014–15 by seeing a red card – his first ever – in a 1–1 home draw against Académica de Coimbra, receiving his marching orders after a second bookable offence in the 65th minute.[13] He went on to conquer his first trophy, that season's Taça de Portugal, playing the full 120 minutes in the final victory over S.C. Braga.[14]

Among continued transfer speculation linking him with a number of English Premier League sides, including Arsenal again, manager Jorge Jesus claimed that Carvalho would remain at the club.[15] On 14 July 2015, Sporting confirmed that the player had suffered a stress fracture in his tibia which would sideline him for three months.[16] In 2017, approaches from West Ham United caused a breakdown in relations between the two clubs that was later resolved.[17]

On 15 May 2018, Carvalho and several of his teammates, including coaches, were injured following an attack by around 50 supporters of Sporting at the club's training ground after the team finished third in the league and missed out on qualification to the UEFA Champions League.[18][19] Despite the events, he and the rest of the team agreed to play in the Portuguese Cup final scheduled for the following weekend,[20] eventually losing to C.D. Aves.[21]

Betis

On 13 July 2018, Carvalho joined Real Betis on a five-year contract.[22] The club paid €16 million plus an additional €4 million in variable costs for 75% of the player's rights, with €10 million more to come later for a further 20% of his rights depending on certain conditions and achievements. He made his La Liga debut on 17 August, playing 65 minutes in a 0–3 home loss against Levante UD.[23]

Carvalho was sent off on 15 September 2019 in the 25th minute of a 1–1 home draw with Getafe CF.[24] Days later, he suffered a spinal disc herniation and did not return until February;[25] he played only 13 games over the season, and was subsequently linked with Leicester City.[26]

On 20 September 2020, Carvalho scored his first goal for the Verdiblancos in a 2–0 home defeat of Real Valladolid.[27] He added another six days later, in the 3–2 loss to Real Madrid also at the Estadio Benito Villamarín.[28]

In September 2022, Carvalho agreed to an extension until 2026.[29] On 13 September 2024, during a home fixture against CD Leganés, he completely ruptured the Achilles tendon of his right leg, going on to miss the rest of the campaign.[30]

International career

Carvalho playing for Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Eligible for both Portugal and Angola, Carvalho chose to represent the former. When he was still part of the Portugal under-20s, the Angolan Football Federation tried to call him up, but was rejected.[3]

Carvalho made his debut with the Portugal under-21 team on 15 October 2012, in a 0–1 friendly loss with Ukraine.[31] He scored twice during the 2015 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, in home wins against Norway (5–1)[32] and Israel (3–0).[33]

Carvalho was first summoned by full side manager Paulo Bento in November 2013 for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs against Sweden.[34] He won his first cap in the second leg on the 19th, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 3–2 away victory (4–2 aggregate).[35]

On 19 May 2014, Carvalho was named in the final 23-man squad for the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil.[36] He made his debut in the competition on 22 June, playing the second half of the 2–2 group stage draw against the United States after replacing injured André Almeida.[37] He featured 90 minutes in the next match to help to a 2–1 win over Ghana, but the team was eliminated on goal difference.[38]

Carvalho played all the games and minutes at the 2015 European Under-21 Championship. He was elected player of the tournament due to his performances, even though he missed the decisive attempt in the penalty shootout in the final against Sweden, with it saved by Patrik Carlgren after a 0–0 draw in Prague.[39][40][41][42][43]

At UEFA Euro 2016 in France, Carvalho was suspended from Portugal's semi-final victory over Wales but regained his place from Danilo Pereira in the final, a 1–0 defeat of the hosts at the Stade de France.[44] He scored his first international goal on 13 November 2016, contributing to a 4–1 home defeat of Latvia for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.[45]

In May 2018, Carvalho was selected by Fernando Santos for the upcoming World Cup held in Russia.[46] He was also picked for Euro 2020,[47] making two appearances in a round-of-16 exit.[48]

Carvalho was named in the final squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.[49]

Style of play

Carvalho plays primarily as a defensive midfielder, although he can also be deployed as a central midfielder or a central defender. Known for his passing range and accuracy, ability to control a game and composure on the pitch, he has earned praise for his imposing physicality.[50]

Despite lacking pace, Carvalho has been praised for his quick decision-making, and has often been compared to Patrick Vieira.[50][3]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 13 September 2024[51]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting CP 2010–11 Primeira Liga 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
2013–14 Primeira Liga 29 4 1 0 3 0 0 0 — 33 4
2014–15 Primeira Liga 30 1 5 0 0 0 7[c] 0 — 42 1
2015–16 Primeira Liga 27 2 3 1 1 0 5[d] 0 0 0 36 3
2016–17 Primeira Liga 32 2 3 0 2 0 6[e] 0 — 43 2
2017–18 Primeira Liga 24 1 1 0 4 0 9[f] 0 — 38 1
Total 143 10 13 1 10 0 27 0 0 0 193 11
Fátima (loan) 2011–12 Segunda Divisão 13 3 0 0 — — — 13 3
Cercle Brugge (loan) 2011–12 Belgian Pro League 19 0 1 0 — — — 20 1
2012–13 Belgian Pro League 28 2 4 0 — — — 32 2
Total 47 3 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52 3
Betis 2018–19 La Liga 30 0 6 0 — 7[d] 0 — 43 0
2019–20 La Liga 13 0 0 0 — — — 13 0
2020–21 La Liga 27 2 3 0 — — — 30 2
2021–22 La Liga 33 2 8 2 — 8[d] 0 — 49 4
2022–23 La Liga 33 3 2 1 — 7[d] 0 1[g] 0 43 4
2023–24 La Liga 22 1 2 0 — 6[h] 0 — 30 1
2024–25 La Liga 4 0 0 0 — 1[i] 0 — 5 0
Total 162 8 21 3 0 0 29 0 1 0 213 11
Career total 365 24 39 4 10 0 56 0 1 0 471 28
  1. ^ Includes Taça de Portugal, Belgian Cup, Copa del Rey
  2. ^ Includes Taça da Liga
  3. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, one appearance in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b c d Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Five appearances in UEFA Champions League, four appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. ^ Appearance in Supercopa de España
  8. ^ Four appearances in UEFA Europa League, two appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
  9. ^ Appearance in UEFA Conference League

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[52]
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 2013 1 0
2014 10 0
2015 4 0
2016 14 1
2017 11 1
2018 13 0
2019 6 2
2020 5 0
2021 5 0
2022 11 1
Total 80 5
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Carvalho goal.[53][52]
List of international goals scored by William Carvalho
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 13 November 2016 Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal  Latvia 2–1 4–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 31 August 2017 Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal  Faroe Islands 3–1 5–1 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 7 September 2019 Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia  Serbia 1–0 4–2 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
4 10 September 2019 LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania  Lithuania 5–1 5–1 UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
5 5 June 2022 Estádio José Alvalade, Lisbon, Portugal   Switzerland 1–0 4–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League A

Honours

Sporting CP

Betis

Portugal U21

Portugal

Individual

Orders

References

  1. ^ a b "FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017: List of players: Portugal" (PDF). FIFA. 20 March 2018. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
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  3. ^ a b c d Alvarenga, Vítor (31 May 2014). "World Cup 2014: Portugal profile – William Carvalho". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2014.
  4. ^ Silva, Samuel (3 April 2011). "Golo tardio de João Paulo tira Sporting do pódio" [Late João Paulo goal takes Sporting from podium]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. ^ "Sporting empresta William Carvalho ao Fátima" [Sporting loan William Carvalho to Fátima]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 July 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
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  7. ^ "OHL tenonder in ouderwets voetbalspektakel" [OHL go under in an old-fashioned spectacle of football] (in Dutch). OH Leuven. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
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  28. ^ "Real Madrid beat Betis on Sergio Ramos' late VAR penalty". ESPN. 26 September 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
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  30. ^ Santamaría, Jordi (14 September 2024). "¡Gravísima lesión de William Carvalho!" [Very serious William Carvalho injury!]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 8 October 2024.
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  66. ^ "The official Under-21 Team of the Tournament". UEFA. 1 July 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  67. ^ "Seleção recebe insígnias de Marcelo no Porto" [National team receive insignia from Marcelo in Porto]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 25 August 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
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