João Palhinha facts for kids
Palhinha with Braga in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 9 July 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.90 m | ||
| Playing position | Defensive midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Bayern Munich | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2009 | Alta de Lisboa | ||
| 2009–2012 | Sacavenense | ||
| 2012–2014 | Sporting CP | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2014–2017 | Sporting CP B | 21 | (1) |
| 2015–2016 | → Moreirense (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2016–2022 | Sporting CP | 72 | (4) |
| 2016–2017 | → Belenenses (loan) | 13 | (1) |
| 2018–2020 | → Braga (loan) | 50 | (4) |
| 2022–2024 | Fulham | 68 | (7) |
| 2024– | Bayern Munich | 8 | (0) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2013 | Portugal U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2013−2014 | Portugal U19 | 14 | (1) |
| 2015 | Portugal U20 | 2 | (0) |
| 2021− | Portugal | 33 | (2) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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João Palhinha (born 9 July 1995) is a Portuguese professional footballer. He plays as a defensive midfielder for the German club Bayern Munich and the Portugal national team.
Palhinha started his football journey at Sporting CP in Portugal. He played for their main team from 2017 and also spent time on loan at other clubs like Moreirense, Belenenses, and Braga. After returning to Sporting in 2020, he became a key player. He helped them win the 2020–21 Primeira Liga (the top Portuguese league) and two League Cups in a row.
In July 2022, Palhinha moved to England to play for Premier League club Fulham. He played there for two seasons. In July 2024, he joined Bundesliga club Bayern Munich in Germany. Palhinha also played for Portugal's youth teams and made his debut for the senior national team in 2021. He has represented Portugal in major tournaments like the 2022 World Cup and two European Championships.
Contents
Club Career
Sporting CP
Starting Out (2012–2015)
João Palhinha was born in Lisbon, Portugal. He joined the youth academy of local club Sporting CP in 2012 when he was 17. He played his first professional game for Sporting's B team in February 2014. This was in a league called the Segunda Liga. He scored his first goal for the B team in April 2015, using a header to help his team win 3–1.
Loan Spells and Return (2015–2020)
From 2015 to 2017, Palhinha was loaned to two other Portuguese top-league teams: Moreirense and Belenenses. A loan means a player temporarily plays for another club. He made his debut in the top league with Moreirense. He scored his first goal in the top league while playing for Belenenses.
After his loans, Palhinha returned to Sporting CP. He played his first game for Sporting's main team in January 2017. He scored his first goals for them in October, scoring twice in a cup match.
Palhinha then spent two seasons on loan at Braga. He played 76 games for them and helped them win the League Cup in 2020. He also helped Braga finish third in the league. A special moment was when he scored the only goal against Benfica, giving Braga their first win against them in 65 years.
Becoming a Key Player (2020–2022)
When Palhinha returned from his loan at Braga, he wanted to play in a different country. However, a move didn't happen, and his former coach at Braga, Rúben Amorim, brought him back into Sporting's main team. Palhinha became their main defensive midfielder. He renewed his contract until 2025. He missed the first month of the season because he got COVID-19, but he returned in October 2020.
Palhinha scored his first goal for Sporting's main team in February 2021. He became a very important player in midfield, known for winning the ball back. He made the most tackles in the league that season, with 185. He played 32 games as Sporting won the Portuguese league for the first time in 19 years. Because of his great performance, he was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year.
In the 2021–22 season, Palhinha faced more competition for his spot and had some injuries. He felt that referees in Portugal gave out yellow cards too easily for tackles. Overall, he played 95 games for Sporting, scoring seven goals. He won one national championship, two League Cups, and one Super Cup with the club.
Fulham (2022–2024)
On 4 July 2022, Palhinha signed a five-year contract with English club Fulham. The transfer fee was about £20 million. He made his Premier League debut on 6 August, playing the whole game in a 2–2 draw against Liverpool. He scored his first goal for Fulham 14 days later, helping them beat Brentford 3–2.
Palhinha was voted Fulham's Player of the Season for the 2022–23 season. He also led all players in the Premier League with 147 tackles.
In August 2023, Palhinha scored a late goal to draw 2–2 against Arsenal. He almost moved to Bayern Munich, but the deal didn't happen because Fulham couldn't find a replacement player in time. He then signed a new contract with Fulham until 2028. He again led the league in tackles during the 2023–24 season, with 154.
Bayern Munich (2024–)
On 11 July 2024, Palhinha officially joined German club Bayern Munich. He signed a four-year deal. He made his first official appearance for Bayern on 16 August. He came on as a substitute in a 4–0 win in the DFB-Pokal, which is Germany's main cup competition.
International Career
Palhinha played for Portugal's national youth teams, including the under-18, under-19, and under-20 teams. He helped the under-19 team finish second in the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship in 2014.
In March 2021, Palhinha was called up to the senior Portugal national team for the first time. He made his debut in a World Cup qualifying match against Azerbaijan, coming on as a substitute. He scored his first goal for Portugal in another qualifying match, helping his team win 3–1 against Luxembourg.
Palhinha was part of Portugal's squad for UEFA Euro 2020 and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He played in all three group-stage matches at the World Cup. He was also selected for UEFA Euro 2024, where he played in four matches as Portugal reached the quarter-finals.
Player Profile
Style of Play
João Palhinha is known for being a strong defensive midfielder. He is very good at winning the ball back from opponents. He has great stamina and is known for his tackling skills. He often uses slide tackles to cover a wide area and stop opposing attacks early.
Because he is tall and strong, Palhinha is good at winning aerial duels (when players jump to head the ball). His strength also helps him keep the ball when he is dribbling. He is seen as a "complete midfielder" because he can break up opponent's plays, pass the ball well, and help both in defense and attack.
Palhinha usually stays in front of his team's defenders. His main job is to stop the other team from attacking and to start his own team's attacks by passing the ball. He is also known for being a strong leader on the field, giving clear instructions to his teammates.
During his time at Fulham, Palhinha had a high passing accuracy. He was consistently among the top players in the Premier League for tackles, interceptions (stopping passes), and duels won (winning one-on-one battles for the ball).
Honours
Braga
- Taça da Liga: 2019–20 (League Cup)
Sporting CP
- Primeira Liga: 2020–21 (Portuguese League)
- Taça da Liga: 2020–21, 2021–22 (League Cup)
- Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2021 (Super Cup)
Individual Awards
- Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2020–21
- Fulham Player of the Season: 2022–23
International Goals
Portugal score listed first, score column indicates score after each Palhinha goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 March 2021 | Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 3 |  Luxembourg |
3–1 | 3–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 12 October 2021 | Estádio Algarve, Loulé/Faro, Portugal | 10 | Luxembourg |
4–0 | 5–0 |
See also
In Spanish: João Palhinha para niños
