Wendel da Silva Costa (born 2 August 2000), sometimes known as just Wendel, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Santos, on loan from Portuguese club Porto.

Wendel Silva
Wendel playing for Santos in 2024
Personal information
Full name Wendel da Silva Costa
Date of birth (2000-08-02) 2 August 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Santos
(on loan from Porto)
Number 19
Youth career
2015–2018 Flamengo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Flamengo 5 (0)
2020–2022 Leixões 34 (6)
2021Covilhã (loan) 9 (1)
2022–2024 Porto B 59 (26)
2022– Porto 0 (0)
2024–Santos (loan) 16 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:48, 26 November 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Flamengo

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Born in Rio de Janeiro, Wendel joined Flamengo's youth sides in 2015, aged 15. He made his first team debut on 17 January 2018, starting in a 2–0 Campeonato Carioca away win over Volta Redonda, as the club used only under-20 players.[1]

After another appearance in the Carioca, Wendel subsequently returned to the under-20s, netting the winner in the 2018 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior final over São Paulo which ensured Fla's fourth title in the competition.[2] He would continue to feature in the under-20 squad in the following years, featuring in a further three appearances with the main squad in the 2020 Carioca.[3]

Leixões

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On 25 August 2020, Liga Portugal 2 club Leixões announced the signing of Wendel.[4] He made his debut abroad on 19 September, coming on as a late substitute for compatriot Lucas Lopes in a 0–0 away draw against Arouca.

Loan to Covilhã

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In February 2021, after being rarely used, Wendel was loaned to fellow second division club Sporting da Covilhã until the end of the season.[5] He scored his first professional goal while at the club, netting the equalizer in a 2–2 away draw against Mafra on 24 April.[6]

2021–22 season

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Upon returning, Wendel became a regular starter for Leixões, and scored his first goal for the club on 22 August 2021, in a 2–1 home win over Académica de Coimbra.[7] He finished the campaign with six goals, as the club finished in the eighth position.

Porto

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On 11 July 2022, Wendel transferred to FC Porto's B-team, also in the second level.[8] He made his first team debut on 25 November, coming off the bench to replace Wendell Borges for the final two minutes of a 2–2 home draw against Mafra in the Taça da Liga.[9]

Despite only featuring in one further appearance for the main squad (a 3–1 Taça de Portugal home win over Vitória de Guimarães on 17 April 2024), Wendel was a first-choice for the B's, scoring eight goals in 2022–23 and a career-best 18 goals in 2023–24.

Loan to Santos

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On 19 August 2024, Wendel was announced at Santos back in his home country on loan until July 2025,[10] for a rumoured fee of 500,000, plus an obligatory €3 million buyout clause if the player scores 15 goals during the loan period.[11] He made his debut for the club five days later, starting in a 0–0 Série B home draw against Amazonas,[12] and scored his first goal on 7 September, in a 1–0 away win over Brusque.[13]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 26 November 2024[14]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league[a] National cup[b] League cup[c] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Flamengo 2018 Série A 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
2019 Série A 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 Série A 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Total 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Leixões 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2 6 0 1 0 7 0
2021–22 Liga Portugal 2 28 6 2 0 1 0 31 6
Total 34 6 3 0 1 0 38 6
Covilhã (loan) 2020–21 Liga Portugal 2 9 1 9 1
Porto B 2022–23 Liga Portugal 2 29 8 29 8
2023–24 Liga Portugal 2 30 18 30 18
Total 59 26 59 26
Porto 2022–23 Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2023–24 Primeira Liga 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Santos (loan) 2024 Série B 16 4 16 4
Career total 118 37 5 0 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 128 37

Honours

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Flamengo

Porto

Santos

Individual

  • Liga Portugal 2 Player of the Month: October/November 2023[15]
  • Liga Portugal 2 Forward of the Month: October/November 2023[16]
  • Liga Portugal 2 Goal of the Month: February 2023[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Fla usa time sub-20 e vence Volta Redonda na estreia do Carioca com golaços" [Fla utilize under-20 team and defeat Volta Redonda on Carioca debut with great goals] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  2. ^ "Caçula decide e marca Flamengo campeão, solidário e guerreiro na Copinha" [Newbie decides and landmarks Flamengo as champions, supportive and combative in the Copinha] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  3. ^ "Herói do Flamengo na Copinha de 2018, Wendel acerta com Leixões, de Portugal" [Hero of Flamengo in the 2018 Copinha, Wendel signs with Leixões, from Portugal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Wendel confirmado como reforço do Leixões" [Wendel confirmed as an addition of Leixões] (in Portuguese). Record. 25 August 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Leixões emprestou Wendel Silva ao Sporting da Covilhã até ao final da época" [Leixões loaned Wendel Silva to Sporting da Covilhã until the end of the season]. SAPO (in Portuguese). 2 February 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Mafra-Sp. Covilhã, 2–2: equipas mantêm jejum de vitórias" [Mafra-Sp. Covilhã, 2–2: teams keep the winless form] (in Portuguese). Record. 24 April 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  7. ^ "Leixões vence Académica com reviravolta no marcador" [Leixões defeat Académica with a comeback in the scoreline] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 22 August 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  8. ^ "Wendel Silva reforça o FC Porto B" [Wendel Silva strengthens FC Porto B] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  9. ^ Castro, Ricardo Jorge (25 November 2022). "Taça da Liga: FC Porto-Mafra, 2-2 (crónica)" [Taça da Liga: FC Porto-Mafra, 2-2 (report)]. Mais Futebol (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Santos FC acerta empréstimo de Wendel Silva, do Porto, até julho de 2025" [Santos FC agree loan of Wendel Silva, from Porto, until July 2025] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ "Santos anuncia a contratação do atacante Wendel Silva" [Santos announce the signing of forward Wendel Silva] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  12. ^ "Entenda por que Wendel foi titular do Santos mesmo após poucos treinos" [Understand why Wendel was a starter of Santos even after few trainings] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  13. ^ "Santos vence Brusque com golaço de Wendel, encerra jejum e dorme na ponta da Série B" [Santos defeat Brusque with a great goal from Wendel, end drought and sleep in the first position of the Série B] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gazeta Esportiva. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  14. ^ Wendel Silva at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Jogador do Mês da Liga Portugal SABSEG é Wendel Silva" [Liga Portugal SABSEG's Player of the Month is Wendel Silva]. Liga Portugal (in European Portuguese). 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  16. ^ "Wendel Silva is the Continente Forward of the Month in Liga Portugal SABSEG". Liga Portugal. 5 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Wendel's powerful strike wins Goal of the Month". Liga Portugal. 16 March 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.