Diego Carlos (footballer, born 1993)

2.1. Early career and Brazil

Diego Carlos began his football career at América FC in Brazil. He started his senior career with Desportivo Brasil. In September 2012, Diego Carlos signed for São Paulo, where he played for their B-Team. Following his time at São Paulo, he also had loan spells with Paulista and Madureira.

2.2. Portugal

On July 2, 2014, Diego Carlos, discovered by Mário Branco, made his first move abroad by signing for Portuguese club Estoril. He spent one year with their development team before going on loan to Porto B. During his loan spell, he made 19 appearances in the Liga Portugal 2. After his loan, Diego Carlos returned to feature for Estoril in the Primeira Liga. He scored his first goal for the club on October 25, 2015, in a 2-2 draw against Rio Ave. In the 2015-16 season, he played 32 league matches for Estoril, scoring 2 goals, and notably received nine yellow cards and three red cards.

2.3. France

In June 2016, it was announced that Diego Carlos would join Nantes in Ligue 1 on a five-year contract. The transfer fee paid to Estoril was an estimated 2.00 M EUR. He made his debut for Nantes on October 25, 2016, in a 2-1 victory over Angers in the Coupe de la Ligue. His first goal for the club came on February 12, 2017, in a 3-2 Ligue 1 victory over Marseille. During his tenure at Nantes, Diego Carlos consistently delivered high-level performances, earning a reputation as a central figure and one of the top defenders in the league.

A notable incident occurred on January 14, 2018, during a Ligue 1 match between Nantes and Paris Saint-Germain. Following a collision, referee Tony Chapron appeared to kick Diego Carlos before sending him off for a second bookable offense. Chapron, who was subsequently suspended by the French Football Federation, admitted his mistake and requested that Diego Carlos' second yellow card be rescinded. As a result, the French football league withdrew the second yellow card.

2.4. Spain

On May 31, 2019, Spanish club Sevilla announced they had reached an agreement with Nantes for the transfer of Diego Carlos. He officially signed a five-year contract on June 3. He made his debut in a 2-0 away victory over Espanyol on August 18, 2019.

Diego Carlos was an integral part of Sevilla's successful 2019-20 UEFA Europa League campaign. In the lead-up to the final, he conceded penalties in both the quarter-final against Wolverhampton Wanderers and the semi-final against Manchester United. In the final itself against Inter Milan on August 21, 2020, he again gave away an early penalty. Despite these incidents, he played a crucial role in the game-winning goal when his overhead kick was deflected into the net by Romelu Lukaku, contributing significantly to Sevilla's victory. He later stated that winning the Europa League was more valuable to him than his Olympic gold medal, dedicating the title and goal to his pregnant wife.

In the 2021-22 season, Sevilla boasted one of the strongest defenses in La Liga and across Europe's top leagues, with Diego Carlos' leadership at centre-back being a key factor. His strong performances attracted interest from several European clubs, with English clubs Newcastle United and West Ham United reportedly attempting to sign him during the January 2022 transfer window. He was also selected for UEFA's La Liga Best XI.

2.5. England

On May 26, 2022, English club Aston Villa announced they had reached an agreement with Sevilla for Diego Carlos' transfer. Although the fee was undisclosed by the club, it was reported to be around 26.00 M GBP. Ahead of his first season with Aston Villa, manager Steven Gerrard named him as one of two vice-captains, alongside Emiliano Martínez, reflecting the club's trust in his leadership.

He made his debut for the club in the Premier League on August 6, 2022, in a 2-0 away loss against Bournemouth. On August 13, 2022, Diego Carlos made his Villa Park debut in a 2-1 victory over Everton. However, in the same match, he suffered a ruptured achilles tendon, which required surgery and led to a long-term absence. This injury was a significant blow, as he was expected to be a defensive cornerstone, and his absence contributed to the team's subsequent three-game losing streak, prompting the club to sign Jan Bednarek on loan. He did not return to the field until March 24, 2023, in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Bristol Rovers. On November 9, 2023, Diego Carlos scored his first goal for Aston Villa, in a 2-1 victory over AZ in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

Upon his departure from Sevilla, Diego Carlos held a farewell ceremony, expressing deep gratitude to the club for his development as both a footballer and a person. He stated that Sevilla changed his life story and that an online farewell would not suffice. He emphasized that he was leaving as a player but would remain a "Sevillista," and expressed joy that his son was born in Seville. He explained his departure was for footballing reasons, seeking a new challenge, while affirming that Sevilla would always be his home.

2.6. Turkey

On January 23, 2025, Diego Carlos signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe. The transfer fee was undisclosed but reported to be around 10.00 M EUR. Three days later, on January 26, he made his Süper Lig debut with the team in a 3-2 win against Göztepe at Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium, entering the game in the 88th minute. On February 5, 2025, he suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury in his right knee during a Turkish Cup match against Erzurumspor, and is expected to be out for approximately two months.