1. Early Life and Background
Adaílton dos Santos da Silva was born on December 6, 1990, in Camaçari, Bahia, Brazil. He is the youngest of ten children, having four older brothers and five older sisters. His humble beginnings in Brazil shaped his resilience and dedication to his football career.
2. Club Career
Adaílton's club career began in Brazil, where he developed his skills across various teams before making a significant move to Japan, where he gained widespread recognition for his dynamic play and goal-scoring ability.
2.1. Brazilian Club Career
Adaílton started his professional journey in Brazil, playing for several clubs. He joined Fortaleza in 2008, making 25 appearances and scoring 6 goals over two seasons. In 2010, he moved to Vitória, where he played 11 matches and scored 3 goals in Série A, alongside 20 appearances and 4 goals in the State League, and 3 appearances in the cup. During his time with Vitória, he also had several loan spells. In 2011, he was loaned to Athletico Paranaense, featuring in 19 Série A matches and scoring 4 goals in 7 State League appearances, along with 2 cup appearances.
In 2012, Adaílton was loaned to Ituano, where he scored 3 goals in 9 State League matches. Later that year, he moved on loan to Joinville, contributing 3 goals in 20 appearances in Série B. His loan spells continued in 2013, returning to Ituano for 16 State League matches, netting 3 goals. He then joined Ponte Preta on loan, playing 13 matches and scoring 2 goals in Série A. In 2014, he played for Paraná on loan, where he was particularly effective, scoring 7 goals in 14 Série B matches before departing Brazil for Japan.
2.2. Júbilo Iwata
Adaílton's career took a significant turn when he joined Japanese club Júbilo Iwata on a loan deal on January 10, 2015. He quickly became an integral part of the team, showcasing his dribbling skills and offensive prowess. In the 2015 J2 League season, he made 39 appearances and scored 17 goals, playing a crucial role in Júbilo Iwata's return to the J1 League after a three-year absence. His goal tally placed him fourth in the J2 League scoring rankings and second within his team, trailing only Jay Bothroyd. Following his impressive loan spell, Júbilo Iwata made his transfer permanent on January 13, 2016.
He continued to perform strongly in the J1 League, making 34 appearances and scoring 6 goals in 2016, and 32 appearances with 8 goals in 2017. However, his progress was disrupted on March 18, 2018, during a J1 League match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Adaílton suffered a severe injury, diagnosed as an anterior cruciate ligament tear and meniscus tear in his right knee. He returned to Brazil for treatment on April 6, 2018. After a long recovery period, he returned to the team in October 2018, as announced by Júbilo Iwata's official social media and blog. He made his return to competitive play after nine months in the J1 Promotion Playoff final against Tokyo Verdy, helping his team secure their J1 League status. In his final season with Júbilo Iwata in 2019, he made 33 appearances and scored 7 goals.
2.3. FC Tokyo
Ahead of the 2020 season, Adaílton made a permanent transfer to FC Tokyo. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal for the club in the AFC Champions League playoff match against Ceres-Negros FC on January 28, contributing to FC Tokyo's qualification for the main tournament. He continued to be a key player in the J1 League, making 33 appearances and scoring 8 goals in his debut season. Adaílton also played a pivotal role in FC Tokyo's success in the J.League Cup, scoring a crucial goal as a substitute in the final to help his team clinch the 2020 J.League Cup title.
He maintained his consistent performance in subsequent seasons, with 38 appearances and 9 goals in 2021, and 31 appearances with 12 goals in 2022, showcasing his increasing importance to the team's attack. In 2023, his final season with FC Tokyo, he played in 29 league matches, scoring 3 goals.
2.4. Ventforet Kofu
In 2024, Adaílton moved to J2 League club Ventforet Kofu on a permanent transfer. As of early 2025, he has continued his career with the team, making 33 league appearances and scoring 14 goals in the 2024 season.
2.5. Club Statistics
As of January 10, 2025.
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vitória | 2010 | Série A | 11 | 3 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 26 | 8 | |
| 2011 | Série B | - | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||||
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 2014 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |||
| Total | 11 | 3 | 20 | 4 | 3 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 38 | 9 | |||
| Athletico Paranaense (loan) | 2011 | Série A | 19 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | - | 29 | 5 | ||
| Ituano (loan) | 2012 | - | 9 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 9 | 3 | ||||||
| Joinville (loan) | 2012 | Série B | 20 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | 20 | 3 | |||||
| Ituano (loan) | 2013 | - | 16 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 16 | 3 | ||||||
| Ponte Preta (loan) | 2013 | Série A | 13 | 2 | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | - | 17 | 2 | ||||
| Paraná (loan) | 2014 | Série B | 14 | 7 | - | - | - | - | - | 14 | 7 | |||||
| Júbilo Iwata (loan) | 2015 | J2 League | 39 | 17 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 39 | 17 | ||||
| Júbilo Iwata | 2016 | J1 League | 34 | 6 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 6 | |||
| 2017 | 32 | 8 | - | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 39 | 10 | |||||
| 2018 | 4 | 1 | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||
| 2019 | 33 | 7 | - | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 38 | 9 | |||||
| Total | 142 | 39 | - | 4 | 2 | 10 | 2 | - | 1 | 0 | 157 | 43 | ||||
| FC Tokyo | 2020 | J1 League | 33 | 8 | - | - | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 12 | ||
| 2021 | 38 | 9 | - | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | - | - | 49 | 13 | |||||
| 2022 | 31 | 12 | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 35 | 14 | |||||
| 2023 | 29 | 3 | - | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | - | - | 37 | 6 | |||||
| Total | 131 | 32 | - | 5 | 3 | 21 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 165 | 45 | |||
| Ventforet Kofu | 2024 | J2 League | 33 | 14 | - | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 14 | |||
| Career total | 383 | 100 | 52 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 33 | 10 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 499 | 134 | ||
3. Honours
FC Tokyo
- J.League Cup: 2020
4. Personal Life and Anecdotes
Adaílton is known for his engaging personality and positive interactions off the field. He has shown a keen interest in Japanese comedy, notably incorporating a routine from the comedy duo Kumamushi's "あったかいんだからぁ♪Attakai n'dakara~Japanese" (It's so warm~) into his goal celebrations. In 2015, he also appeared in the music video for Júbilo Iwata's season song, "Kimi no Kaze ni Natte" (Becoming Your Wind), performed by USAGI.
A testament to his positive impact and popularity, November 8, 2015, was designated "Adaílton Day" during a home match against V-Varen Nagasaki. On this special occasion, 10,000 paper hats designed by Adaílton himself were distributed to fans. Furthermore, he extended an invitation to approximately 1,300 children from Brazilian schools to attend the match, highlighting his commitment to community engagement. In that game, Adaílton scored, contributing to a 4-2 victory, and was named Man of the Match, underscoring his ability to perform under the spotlight and connect with his supporters.
Former Júbilo Iwata manager Hiroshi Nanami has described Adaílton as "always a nice guy," praising his good character. Adaílton was known for proactively visiting the manager's office to discuss concerns. Following Júbilo Iwata's promotion to the J1 League in 2015, Adaílton emotionally expressed his gratitude to Nanami, telling him, "My growth is thanks to you," showcasing his humility and respect for his mentors.
5. External Links
- [https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX04/?player_id=1500544 Player profile and statistics] at J.League (JリーグJ RīguJapanese) Data Site
- [https://www.jubilo-iwata.co.jp/tas/player/2016/15.php Profile at Júbilo Iwata]