1. Early Life and Youth Career
Serginho's early life and youth development saw him transition between prominent Brazilian academies before making his professional debut.
1.1. Youth and Academy Career
Born in Monte Aprazível, São Paulo, Brazil, Sérgio Antônio Soler de Oliveira Júnior began his football journey in 2008, joining the youth setup of São Paulo FC. However, in 2011, he left São Paulo FC due to a recurrent back injury. That same year, at the age of 15, he joined the youth academy of rival club Santos FC. Serginho quickly gained recognition for his performances with Santos's under-20 team, playing a crucial role in their midfield during the successful 2014 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior campaign, which the team won.
1.2. Early Professional Career (Santos and Initial Loans)
Serginho made his first-team debut for Santos FC on March 9, 2014, coming on as a late substitute in a match against Oeste for the Campeonato Paulista, which Santos won 4-1 at home. His Série A debut followed on September 11, when he again appeared from the bench in a 1-3 away loss to Sport Recife. On January 15, 2016, Serginho renewed his contract with Santos, extending it until 2018.
Later that year, on July 7, he was loaned to fellow top-tier club Vitória until the end of the season. On November 17, 2016, Serginho scored his first professional goal, netting Vitória's second goal in a 2-3 away defeat against his former club, Santos. On February 17 of the following year, he moved to Santo André on loan, with the agreement lasting until the end of the 2017 Campeonato Paulista. Upon his return to Santos, Serginho saw limited playing time until July 2017, when he featured in a 1-0 away victory against Atlético Mineiro. He began to appear more regularly from late September onwards, primarily as a substitute, under the guidance of coach Levir Culpi, who gave him a new role within the team.
2. Major Club Career
Serginho's professional career saw him move through several significant clubs in Brazil, Japan, and China, making notable contributions at each.
2.1. América Mineiro
On January 23, 2018, Serginho was loaned to América Mineiro for a one-year spell. During his time with the club, he delivered strong performances, including scoring a brace in a 3-0 home victory against Sport on April 15. Before his subsequent transfer to Japan, he recorded 12 appearances, 4 goals, and 4 assists in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A for América Mineiro, and a total of 7 goals in 24 official matches.
2.2. Kashima Antlers
On July 29, 2018, Serginho made a permanent move to J1 League club Kashima Antlers in Japan. He made an immediate impact, notably in the 2018 AFC Champions League. He scored his first goal in Japan on August 28 during the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League quarter-final against Tianjin Quanjian, with a low, knuckleball shot. He continued his prolific scoring in the competition, netting goals in five consecutive matches up to the first leg of the final against Persepolis FC. His outstanding contributions were crucial to Kashima Antlers' victory in the 2018 AFC Champions League.
While registered as a midfielder, Serginho was often deployed as a second top striker at Kashima due to his strong aerial ability, physical prowess, and accurate shooting. In 2019, he transitioned to playing primarily as a right-sided midfielder, becoming a key offensive player for the team by utilizing his precise long and short passes and excellent ball retention skills. He maintained strong form throughout the 2019 season, scoring 12 goals in 33 league appearances.
2.3. Chinese Super League
In January 2020, Serginho completed a transfer to Changchun Yatai in China. He played a significant role in the club's success, contributing to their China League One title victory in 2020. After several seasons with Changchun Yatai, it was announced on January 27, 2025, that Serginho had been released by the club following the expiration of his contract. Shortly thereafter, on February 2, 2025, fellow Chinese Super League team Beijing Guoan announced that Serginho had joined them, where he chose to wear the number 7 shirt.
3. Style of Play
Serginho is primarily an attacking midfielder or second-striker/forward. His playing style is characterized by several key attributes, including strong aerial ability, robust physical prowess, and accurate shooting often resulting in decisive goals. He is also noted for his ability to deliver precise long and short passes, effectively distributing the ball across the field, and his skill in retaining possession under pressure. At Kashima Antlers, he was initially utilized as a second top striker, leveraging his physical attributes and finishing skills. In a later tactical adjustment, he was deployed as a right-sided midfielder, where his passing range and ball retention became central to the team's offensive strategy.
4. Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League | State league | National cup (Includes Copa do Brasil, Emperor's Cup, Chinese FA Cup) | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santos | 2014 | Série A | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| 2015 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 13 | 0 | |||||
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 18 | 0 | |||||
| 2017 | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||||||
| Total | 29 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 49 | 0 | ||||
| Vitória (loan) | 2016 | Série A | 16 | 1 | - | - | - | 2 | 0 | - | 18 | 1 | ||||
| Santo André (loan) | 2017 | Paulista | - | 13 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 13 | 0 | |||||
| América Mineiro (loan) | 2018 | Série A | 12 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | 24 | 7 | |||
| Kashima Antlers | 2018 | J.League | 10 | 3 | - | 3 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | - | 23 | 10 | ||
| 2019 | 33 | 12 | - | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 53 | 21 | |||
| Total | 43 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 76 | 31 | ||
| Changchun Yatai | 2020 | China League One | 15 | 3 | - | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 17 | 4 | ||||
| 2021 | Chinese Super League | 15 | 3 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 15 | 3 | |||||
| 2022 | 25 | 9 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 25 | 9 | ||||||
| 2023 | 17 | 4 | - | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | 18 | 6 | ||||||
| 2024 | 24 | 8 | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 25 | 8 | ||||||
| Total | 96 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | - | - | - | 100 | 30 | |||||
| Beijing Guoan | 2025 | Chinese Super League | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 196 | 47 | 35 | 1 | 21 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 19 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 280 | 69 | ||
5. Honours
Serginho has achieved several club and individual honors throughout his professional career.
5.1. Club Honours
- Santos
- Campeonato Paulista: 2015, 2016
- Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior: 2014
- Kashima Antlers
- AFC Champions League: 2018
- Changchun Yatai
- China League One: 2020
5.2. Individual Honours
- J1 League Monthly MVP: July 2019
6. External links
- [http://www.santosfc.com.br/elenco/serginho/ Santos official profile] Sérgio Antônio Soler de Oliveira JúniorPortuguese
- [https://data.j-league.or.jp/SFIX04/?player_id=14717 J.League Data Site profile] セルジーニョJapanese
- [https://www.sohu.com/a/855094531_463728?scm=thor.518_14-200000.0.0.&spm=smpc.home.sports-news11.5.17384616000165oXoZw5_1467&_trans_=060008_lym Sohu: Beijing Guoan Announces Serginho Transfer] 国安官宣四名内外援加盟：巴西全能中场+国脚吴少聪Chinese (Chinese characters)