Diego Moreira

Diego Manuel Jadon da Silva Moreira (Portuguese pronunciation: [diˈɛɣu muˈɾɐjɾɐ]; born 6 August 2004), also known as Moreira Jr. is a professional footballer who plays as a winger for Ligue 1 club Lyon, on loan from Premier League club Chelsea. Born in Belgium, he is a Portuguese youth international.

Not to be confused with Diogo Moreira.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Moreira.
Diego Moreira
Moreira with Benfica in 2022
Personal information
Full name Diego Manuel Jadon da Silva Moreira
Date of birth (2004-08-06) 6 August 2004
Place of birth Liège, Belgium
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Lyon
(on loan from Chelsea)
Number 19
Youth career
0000–2020 Standard Liège
2020–2021 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021–2023 Benfica B 25 (3)
2022–2023 Benfica 1 (0)
2023– Chelsea 0 (0)
2023– → Lyon (loan) 2 (0)
International career‡
2019 Belgium U15 2 (0)
2019–2020 Portugal U16 12 (1)
2021 Portugal U18 8 (1)
2022–2023 Portugal U19 12 (2)
2023– Portugal U20 2 (0)
2023– Portugal U21 4 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23 September 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:43, 18 October 2023 (UTC)

Early life

Moreira was born in Liège, where his father, former Guinea-Bissau international Almami Moreira, was then playing professional football at Standard de Liege.[2][3][4] From his mother's side, Diego is the grandson of Helmut Graf, a German-born footballer who also played for the Belgian club from 1976 to 1982.[5][6][7]

Club career

Early career

Coming through the youth ranks at Standard—where his father played until 2006[6]— Moreira first tried to leave the club in 2019 for personal reasons, training with Lierse Kempenzonen, but with the Belgian federation eventually not approving his move.[8] He ended up leaving Les Rouches for Benfica in August 2020, signing his first professional contract with the club from Lisbon, where his father lived.[2][3][4][9]

Benfica

Moreira started to play with Benfica's under-23 in the Liga Revelação midway through the 2020–21 season.[10] During the following season, he became a regular starter with the U23 team—scoring his first goal with the team during a 3–0 derby win against Sporting.[11] He made his professional debut for Benfica B on the 10 January 2022, replacing Tiago Gouveia for the last 15 minutes of a 1–2 home Segunda Liga loss to rivals Porto B.[12][13]

He played a major role in the UEFA Youth League, where Benfica U19 topped their group against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Moreira most notably scoring a goal against the latter during a 4–0 home win in October 2021.[4][14][15] In the final phases, he scored a brace and provided two assists in a 4–0 derby win against Sporting in the quarter-finals; and provided another two assists in the final in a 6–0 win over Red Bull Salzburg to help Benfica win their first Youth League title, and their first title in European football since the 1961–62 European Cup.[16]

Under interim manager Nélson Veríssimo, Moreira was promoted to Benfica's first team alongside seven other Benfica youth team players, making his debut on 13 May 2022, in a 2–0 away win to Paços de Ferreira in the Primeira Liga.[17] However, after refusing to sign a new contract during the pre-season, he was demoted to the B team, and sporadically appeared for the latter, with the team's manager Luís Castro deeming his situation "difficult", before returning to the under-23's for the rest of the season.[18]

Chelsea

On 1 July 2023, Moreira joined Premier League club Chelsea, following the expiration of his contract with Benfica.[19] On 30 August 2023, he made his debut for the club starting in their EFL Cup second round tie against AFC Wimbledon, featuring for 45 minutes in the eventual 2–1 victory.[20]

Loan to Lyon

On 1 September 2023, Moreira joined Ligue 1 club Lyon on a season-long loan.[21] He made his debut for the club on 17 September, coming off the bench to replace Ernest Nuamah on the 77th minute of a 0–0 league draw at home to Le Havre.[22] Six days later, he made his first start for Les Gones, playing 52 minutes in a 1–0 league loss away at Brest.[23]

International career

A dual citizen of Belgium and Portugal[8][24]—while also eligible to play for both Guinea-Bissau and Germany—Moreira first played with the Belgium under-15 as he was a starter during their 3–1 win against England at St George's Park in February 2019.[25][26]

But even before leaving to play his club football in Portugal, the youngster chose to switch for the Lusitanian selection in 2019, becoming a regular with the under-16[3][4] and—after a covid-interrupted 2020–21 season—with the under-18.[27][28][29]

Style of play

A left-footed winger able to play on both sides of the attack, Moreira is described as a fast, explosive and technically gifted footballer, most notably excelling in dribbling past his opponent. He is compared to the likes of Portuguese international Nani.[30]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 23 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Europe Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Benfica B 2021–22 Liga Portugal 2 10———10
2022–23 Liga Portugal 2 243———243
Total 253———253
Benfica 2021–22 Primeira Liga 1000000010
2022–23 Primeira Liga 0000001[lower-alpha 1]010
Total 1000001020
Chelsea 2023–24 Premier League 000010—10
Lyon (loan) 2023–24 Ligue 1 2000——20
Career total 283001010303
  1. Appearance in UEFA Champions League

Honours

Benfica U19

References
  1. "Diego Moreira". Chelsea F.C. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  2. Jacques, Maxime (21 August 2020). "Fin du bras de fer : le fils d'Almani Moreira rejoint Benfica". La Dernière Heure (in French). Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  3. Durand, Joachim (21 August 2020). "Officiel : Le fils d'Almami Moreira quitte le Standard". Walfoot.be (in French). Archived from the original on 19 January 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  4. "Filho de ex-jogador marca golaço ao Bayern no Seixal". Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  5. "On a retrouvé Helmut Graf". L'Avenir (in French). 31 January 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2022. Inutile de dire que s'il perce, on rappellera que Diego Moreira-Graf avait ça dans le sang, un peu comme son (grand)-père.
  6. "Diego, le fils… d'Almami". La Dernière Heure (in French). 8 April 2010. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  7. "Officiel: Diego Da Silva Moreira (ex-Standard) signe un contrat pro à Benfica". La Meuse (in French). Groupe Sudpresse. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022. Fils d'Almani Moreira (Standard de 2001 à 2006) et petit-fils de Helmut Graf (Standard de 1976 à 1982), il est également international chez les jeunes du Portugal, il affiche ainsi douze sélections et un but avec les U16 de la sélection lusitanienne.
  8. Belga (7 December 2019). "La Commission des Litiges d'appel confirme l'annulation du transfert du joueur du Standard Da Silva Moreira au Lierse". Le Soir (in French). Archived from the original on 25 December 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  9. "Officiel: Diego Da Silva Moreira (ex-Standard) signe un contrat pro à Benfica". La Meuse (in French). Groupe Sudpresse. 20 August 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2022. Fils d'Almani Moreira (Standard de 2001 à 2006) et petit-fils de Helmut Graf (Standard de 1976 à 1982), il est également international chez les jeunes du Portugal, il affiche ainsi douze sélections et un but avec les U16 de la sélection lusitanienne.
  10. "Maturidade desequilibrou". SL Benfica (in Portuguese). 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. Mendes, Miguel (19 December 2021). "Benfica soma e segue e vence dérbi no Seixal (Liga Revelação)". A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. Lopes, Sérgio (10 January 2022). "Benfica B-FC Porto B, 1-2: Peglow despeja balde de água fria". Record (in European Portuguese). Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  13. "F. C. Porto B vence Benfica B no Seixal ncom golo o último minuto". Jornal de Notícias (in European Portuguese). 10 January 2022. Archived from the original on 10 January 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  14. "Youth League: Benfica-Bayern". O Jogo (in European Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  15. "Categórico escreveu-se com golos". SL Benfica (in Portuguese). 20 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  16. "Benfica: a história dos 24 jogadores que venceram a Youth League". maisfutebol.iol.pt.
  17. "BENFICA VENCE EM PAÇOS DE FERREIRA (2-0) COM BIS DE HENRIQUE ARAÚJO". abola.pt.
  18. "Diego Moreira deixa o Benfica e assina pelo Chelsea". zerozero.pt.
  19. "Moreira signs for Chelsea". Chelsea F.C. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  20. "Chelsea vs. AFC Wimbledon". Soccerway. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  21. "Moreira departs for Lyon on loan". www.chelseafc.com. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  22. Vegas, Paul (18 September 2023). "Chelsea winger Diego Moreira happy with Lyon debut". Yardbarker. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  23. "Lyon de Anthony e Diego Moreira perde na estreia do novo treinador" [Anthony and Diego Moreira's Lyon loses in new manager's debut]. Maisfutebol (in European Portuguese). 24 September 2023.
  24. Franken, Christphe (15 March 2021). "Ces joueurs qui pourraient choisir les Diables: des binationaux à la pelle chez nous". La Dernière Heure (in French). Archived from the original on 15 March 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022. L'attaquant Diego Moreira (17 ans), fils de l'ancien Standardman Moreira, qui est une promesse de Benfica
  25. "Lineups England U-15 vs Belgium U-15 - Amistosos Selecciones Sub 15 2019". Besoccer. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  26. "Les U15 clôturent leur stage par une victoire". Royal Belgian FA. 13 February 2019. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  27. "Seleção Sub-18 com cinco benfiquistas". SL Benfica (in Portuguese). 26 August 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  28. "Sub-18: Portugal vence a França com reviravolta no torneio de Limoges". Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 3 September 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  29. Lusa (11 November 2021). "Portugal vence Bélgica na estreia no Torneio Internacional de Pinatar em sub-18". SAPO Desporto (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  30. Lorini, Simone (6 January 2022). "Un talento al giorno, Diego Moreira: ala dribblomane sulla scia dei grandi portoghesi". TUTTOmercatoWEB.com (in Italian). Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  31. Raio X de Jogador Diego Moreira Benfica zerozero.pt
  32. Conheça os 24 heróis da Youth League (Benfica)
  33. "Sub-20: a Taça Intercontinental é nossa!" (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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