Wesley (footballer, born November 1996)
![]() Wesley with Club Brugge in 2019 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Wesley Moraes Ferreira da Silva | ||
Date of birth | 26 November 1996 | ||
Place of birth | Juiz de Fora, Brazil | ||
Height | 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | Aston Villa | ||
Youth career | |||
2009–2015 | Itabuna | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2015–2016 | Trenčín | 18 | (6) |
2016–2019 | Club Brugge | 107 | (32) |
2019– | Aston Villa | 0 | (0) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 3 June 2019 |
Wesley Moraes Ferreira da Silva (born 26 November 1996), commonly known as Wesley, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League as a centre forward. He began his career at Brazilian side Itabuna before moving to Trenčín in the Slovak Super Liga and subsequently Club Brugge where he won two league titles and was named Belgian Young Professional Footballer of the Year in 2018.
Club career
Itabuna
Having joined the club at fourteen, Wesley turned professional at Itabuna, playing in the state level Campeonato Baiano between 2013 to 2015. He later went on trial with European clubs including a lengthy six-month trial at Athletico Madrid's Under-19 side where he played in tournaments in Bilbao and Croatia, and later a three-month trial at AS Nancy; neither club offered him a professional contract.[1][2] Wesley also trialled with then Ligue 2 side Evian.[1]
Trenčín
Wesley joined AS Trenčín of the Slovak Super Liga in July 2015, who had become aware of him after his trials in Europe.[2] On 14 July 2015, he played for Trenčín against FCSB in the second round of qualification of the 2015–2016 Champions League. He scored twice for Trenčín in the return match against FCSB, helping his side to a 3–2 win but the club did not proceed to the next round.[citation needed]
Club Brugge
Wesley moved to Club Brugge on 29 January 2016. He scored his first goal in his debut match against KVC Westerlo. Brugges worked to tone down his aggression during games which led to a number of yellow cards and a sending off in his first season, he wore tape on his hands in a match against Royal Antwerp as a reminder to not react.[3]
Aston Villa
On 13 June 2019, Wesley signed for Aston Villa F.C. in the Premier League, for a fee of £22,000,000. [4]
Personal life
Wesley grew up in Juiz de Fora, a small city around 200 kilometres from Rio de Janeiro.[3] His father was footballer who played as a midfielder but only made a small amount of money from playing; Wesley credited his father as having taught him the game of football. He became partially disabled later in his life and died following a brain tumour when Wesley was nine years of age.[3]
Wesley has two children, Yan and Maria Eduarda.[3] As a sixteen year-old he worked in a factory sorting screws to support his family between football trials before his move to AS Trencin.[3]
Career statistics
Club
Club | Season | League | League | Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
Trenčín | 2015–16 | Fortuna Liga | 18 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2[a] | 2 | – | 22 | 8 | |
Club Brugge | 2015–16 | Belgian First Division A | 3 | 1 | – | – | 3[b] | 1 | 6 | 2 | ||
2016–17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5[a] | 0 | 9[b][c] | 5 | 32 | 6 | ||
2017–18 | 28 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1[d] | 0 | 10[b] | 4 | 44 | 13 | ||
2018–19 | 25 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 8[a] | 3 | 1[c] | 1 | 35 | 14 | ||
Total | 73 | 19 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 23 | 11 | 117 | 35 | ||
Career total | 91 | 25 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 5 | 23 | 11 | 139 | 43 |
- ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ a b c Appearances in Belgian First Division A playoffs
- ^ a b Appearance in Belgian Super Cup
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
Honours
AS Trenčín
Club Brugge
Individual
References
- ^ a b "Brazilian sensation in Belgium is compared to Lukaku and wants to shine in the Champions League". ESPN (Portuguese). Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b "Millionaire player sale may 'resurrect' Itabuna (Portuguese)". Atiuidade Esporte News. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "How Wesley Moraes arrived at Aston Villa via Brazil, Slovakia and Belgium". The Times. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "Aston Villa sign Wesley Moraes from Club Brugge for £22m". Sky Sports. 13 June 2019.
- ^ "Wesley » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- ^ "Wesley Moraes". Soccerway.
- ^ a b "Aston Villa sign Wesley from Club Brugge for club record fee". BBC Sport. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
- ^ "Aston Villa agree transfer of Wesley". AVFC. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
External links
- Wesley at Soccerway
- Futbalnet profile
- AS Trenčín official website profile
- 1996 births
- Living people
- Association football forwards
- Brazilian footballers
- Brazilian expatriate footballers
- FK AS Trenčín players
- Club Brugge KV players
- Slovak Super Liga players
- Belgian First Division A players
- Expatriate footballers in Slovakia
- Expatriate footballers in Belgium
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Slovakia
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Belgium
- People from Juiz de Fora
- Expatriate footballers in England
- Aston Villa F.C. players
- Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Brazilian football forward stubs