Ricardo Santos (footballer, born 1995)

Last updated

Ricardo Santos
Ricardo Santos October 2019.png
Santos playing for Barnet in 2019
Personal information
Full name Ricardo Alexandre Almeida Santos [1]
Date of birth (1995-06-18) 18 June 1995 (age 30) [2]
Place of birth Almada, Portugal
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) [3]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Swansea City
Number 23
Youth career
–2012 Dagenham & Redbridge
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2013 Dagenham & Redbridge 0 (0)
2013 → Billericay Town (loan) 4 (0)
2013 Dover Athletic 0 (0)
2013–2014 Thurrock 19 (1)
2014–2016 Peterborough United 63 (1)
2017–2020 Barnet 84 (6)
2020–2025 Bolton Wanderers 172 (4)
2025– Swansea City 0 (0)
International career
2025– Cape Verde 1 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21:49, 9 May 2025 (UTC)

Ricardo Alexandre Almeida Santos (born 18 June 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for EFL Championship club Swansea City. Born in Portugal, he represents the Cape Verde national team.

Contents

Club career

Santos was a youth team player at Dagenham & Redbridge, making one appearance in the matchday squad, [4] before he was released and signed by Thurrock manager Mark Stimson, following a spell at Dover Athletic where he made no appearances. [4] He impressed for the Isthmian League club, making 24 appearances, [5] and was signed by Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson on a three-and-a-half-year contract in February 2014. [6] Peterborough paid £8000 for him. [7] He made his League One debut on 3 May in a 0–0 draw with Port Vale at London Road. [8] Santos scored his first goal for the club when he scored a late winner against Doncaster Rovers on 19 March 2016. [9]

On 1 January 2017, Santos joined Barnet for a fee of £100,000. [10] He made his debut on the following day in a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle. He left the club at the end of the 2019–20 season having spent two and a half seasons with the Bees, making 94 appearances, scoring six goals. [11]

Bolton Wanderers

Santos signed for Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal on 3 August 2020. [12] His debut came on 5 September in Bolton's first match of the season, a 2–1 home defeat against Bradford in the first round of the EFL Cup. [13] On 1 March 2021, Santos signed a new contract with Bolton until 2023. [14] He was named as EFL League Two Player of the Month for February 2021. [15] On 21 May 2021, following the team's direct promotion to the EFL League One, he was announced to have been voted as Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season. [16] Plus, he was named in the league's Team of the Year, together with his team-mate Eoin Doyle. [17]

On 22 October 2021, following the sudden departure of Antoni Sarcevic to Stockport County, Santos was appointed by manager Ian Evatt as Bolton's new captain. [18] He was named in the Team of the Year for the second consecutive year, this time in League One, for the 2021–22 season. [19] On 26 May 2022, Santos signed a new three-year deal with Bolton Wanderers which would keep him at the club until 2025. [20]

On 11 February 2023, Santos scored his first goals for Bolton with a brace in a 5–0 win at his former team Peterborough United, Bolton's 5000th league game. [21] On 2 April, he started in the 2023 EFL Trophy final which Bolton won 4–0 against Plymouth Argyle. [22] He was named in both the EFL [23] and PFA [24] Teams of the Season for the 2022–23 season, the third season in a row he had been named in Teams of the Year. A year later, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year again, his fourth consecutive appearance. [25]

On 21 September 2024, Bolton manager Ian Evatt announced that Santos would be replaced as captain by George Thomason for the 2024–25 season. [26] On 7 May 2025, the club confirmed that Santos would leave at the end of his contract, [27] having made 207 appearances and scored six goals in all competitions for them. [27] [28]

Swansea City

On 6 June 2025, Santos agreed to join Championship side Swansea City on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract set to be effective from 1 July. [29] [30]

International career

Born in Portugal, Santos is of Cape Verdean descent. [28]

In May 2025, he accepted a call-up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies against Malaysia and Georgia. [28] [31] He played for the Tubarões Azuis on 3 June in a behind closed doors training match, playing 90 minutes in a 3–0 win over Malaysia. As it was a training match, it wasn't considered an official appearance. [32] [33]

Career statistics

As of match played 12 April 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeague FA Cup League Cup OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Dagenham & Redbridge 2012–13 [34] League Two 0000000000
Billericay Town (loan) 2012–13 [35] Conference South 40———40
Thurrock 2013–14 [36] IL Division One North19120—2 [a] 0231
Peterborough United 2013–14 [37] League One 10——0010
2014–15 [38] League One240101000260
2015–16 [39] League One37140101 [b] 0431
2016–17 [40] League One1010102 [b] 050
Total631603030751
Barnet 2016–17 [40] League Two152000000152
2017–18 League Two42310202 [b] 0473
2018–19 National League 5000—0050
2019–20 National League22120—3 [c] 0271
Total846302050946
Bolton Wanderers 2020–21 [41] League Two460101000480
2021–22 [42] League One37020103 [b] 0430
2022–23 [43] League One30310107 [d] 0393
2023–24 [44] League One34041106 [e] 1452
2024–25 [45] League One25100304 [b] 0321
Total172481702012076
Career total3421219112030140314
  1. ↑ Appearances in FA Trophy
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in EFL Trophy
  3. ↑ One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in National League playoffs
  4. ↑ Five appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
  5. ↑ Three appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearance in League One play-offs

Honours

Bolton Wanderers

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Professional retain lists & free transfers 2012/13" (PDF). The Football League. May 2013. p. 55. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "Ricardo Santos". 11v11. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
  3. ↑ "Ricardo Santos". Bolton Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 Munford, Colin (5 February 2014). "Former Daggers defender joins Peterborough United". Barking and Dagenham Post. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Club not live". pitchero.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Peterborough sign Portuguese defender Ricardo Santos". BBC Sport. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  7. ↑ The Bolton News: Why Peterborough United owner Darragh MacAnthony wants Bolton's Ricardo Santos to say 'sorry': "We got Rico from Thurrock and paid eight grand for him"
  8. ↑ "Peterborough 0-0 Port Vale". BBC Sport. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Doncaster 1–2 Peterborough". BBC Sport. 19 March 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  10. ↑ "Barnet complete Santos signing". barnetfc.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  11. ↑ "Club update". barnetfc.com. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Evatt Recruits Portuguese Defender". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  13. ↑ "Report: Bolton Wanderers 1–2 Bradford City". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  14. ↑ BWFC.co.uk: "Almeida Santos signs new deal"
  15. 1 2 "Manager and Defender win Sky Bet monthly awards". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. 1 2 Bolton Wanderers: "Ricardo Almeida Santos Named As Bolton Wanderers' 2020/21 Player Of The Year"
  17. ↑ "🏆 Wanderers duo named in PFA League Two Team of the Year". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Santos Gets Captain's Job". bwfc.co.uk. 22 October 2021.
  19. 1 2 The PFA: "PFA League One Team of the Year"
  20. ↑ "Done Deal As Captain Commits". bwfc.co.uk. 26 May 2022.
  21. ↑ The Bolton News: "Bolton Wanderers boss Ian Evatt's joy at Ricardo Santos first goals"
  22. 1 2 Pilnick, Brent (2 April 2023). "Bolton Wanderers 4–0 Plymouth Argyle". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  23. 1 2 "EFL Team of the Season line-ups revealed". English Football League. 23 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Erling Haaland: Manchester City forward wins PFA men's Player of the Year award". BBC Sport. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  25. 1 2 "PFA League One Team of the Year". PFA. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  26. ↑ Iles, Marc (21 September 2024). "Bolton Wanderers appoint George Thomason as new captain". The Bolton News. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  27. 1 2 "Farewell to Rico and Geth". bwfc.co.uk. 7 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  28. 1 2 3 Iles, Marc (4 June 2025). "Ex-Bolton Wanderers captain Ricardo Santos set for Championship move". The Bolton News. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  29. ↑ "Swansea City agree signing of Ricardo Santos". www.swanseacity.com. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  30. ↑ "Ricardo Santos: Swansea City sign ex-Bolton Wanderers defender". BBC Sport. 6 June 2025. Retrieved 18 June 2025.
  31. ↑ "Tubarões Azuis disputam amigáveis com Malásia e Geórgia – Convocados" [Blue Sharks to play friendlies with Malaysia and Georgia – Squad]. fcf.cv (in Portuguese). 20 May 2025.
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/DKeKCgtzUuc/
  34. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2012/2013 for Billericay Town". Soccerway. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  36. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2013/2014 for Thurrock". Thurrock F.C. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  40. 1 2 "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 November 2016.
  41. 1 2 "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  42. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  43. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  44. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  45. ↑ "Games played by Ricardo Santos in 2024/2025". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  46. ↑ Soccerbase: League Two 2020/21 Table
  47. ↑ The PFA: "PFA League Two Team of the Year"
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.