Anselmo (footballer, born 1989)

Anselmo de Moraes (Brazilian Portuguese: [ɐ̃ˈsew.mu dʒi moˈɾajs];^[1] born 20 February 1989), or simply Anselmo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Australian club Adelaide United.

Anselmo

Personal information
Full name	Anselmo de Moraes
Date of birth	(1989-02-20) 20 February 1989 (age 36)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position	Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team	Adelaide United
Number	87
Youth career
2004–2009	Palmeiras
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2012	Palmeiras	0	(0)
2011	→ Grêmio Barueri (loan)	19	(1)
2012	→ São Caetano (loan)	3	(0)
2012–2013	Genoa	5	(0)
2013	Palermo	5	(1)
2013–2014	São Caetano	20	(1)
2014–2016	Joinville	31	(1)
2016–2018	Internacional	17	(0)
2017–2018	→ Sport Recife (loan)	40	(5)
2018–2024	Al-Wehda	128	(22)
2021–2022	→ Al-Nassr (loan)	20	(0)
2025	Johor Darul Ta'zim	0	(0)
2025–	Adelaide United	0	(0)
International career
	Brazil U-20[citation needed]
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 September 2025

Career

Palmeiras

Anselmo made his debut for Palmeiras as a second-half substitute in a Campeonato Paulista 2010 match against Monte Azul on 27 January 2010.^[2] In 2011 goes on loan to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club Grêmio Barueri, while in 2012, is on loan to another Campeonato Brasileiro Série B club, São Caetano.^[3]

Italy

On 30 July 2012 he moved to the Serie A club Genoa for €900,000 in installments.^[4] Made his debut in Serie A on September 23 in the match won 1-0 over Lazio. In January 2013 he was sold to Palermo in an exchange deal for right back Eros Pisano.^[5] Both clubs retained 50% registration rights, valued €700,000.^[6] Palermo relegated at the end of season. In June 2013 Genoa gave up the registration rights of Anselmo to Palermo, as well as acquired Pisano outright for €531,000.^[6] On 16 July 2013 Anselmo and Palermo mutually agreed to terminate the contract.^[7]

Palmeiras later sued Genoa to FIFA for unpaid €600,000 transfer fee. However Genoa still did not pay Palmeiras in time.^[8]

Return to Brazil

On 26 July 2013, he was re-signed by São Caetano in 2-year contract.^[9] On 14 August 2014, Joinville acquired 50% economic rights (as well as full registration rights) of Anselmo.^[10] In 2016, Anselmo joined Brasileiro Série A club Internacional on a three-year contract.^[11]

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 May 2024^[12]

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Palmeiras	2010	Série A	—		2[a]	0	—		—		—		2	0
Palmeiras B	2011	—	—		10[b]	1	—		—		—		10	1
Grêmio Barueri (loan)	2011	Série B	19	1	—		—		—		—		19	1
São Caetano (loan)	2012	Série B	3	0	14[a]	0	—		—		—		17	0
Genoa	2012-13	Serie A	5	0	—		—		—		—		5	0
Palermo	2012-13	Serie A	5	1	—		—		—		—		5	1
São Caetano	2013	Série B	18	1	—		—		—		1[c]	0	19	1
	2014	Série C	2	0	11[b]	1	—		—		—		13	1
	Total		20	1	11	1	—		—		1	0	32	2
Joinville	2014	Série B	17	1	—		—		—		—		17	1
	2015	Série A	29	0	4[d]	0	—		1[e]	0	—		34	0
	2016	Série B	—		17[d]	1	2	0	—		—		19	1
	Total		46	1	21	1	2	0	1	0	—		70	2
Internacional	2016	Série A	17	0	—		—		—		—		17	0
	2017	Série B	0	0	12[f]	0	2	0	—		2[g]	0	16	0
	Total		17	0	12	0	2	0	—		2	0	33	0
Sport Recife (loan)	2017	Série A	21	0	—		—		4[e]	0	—		25	0
	2018		8	2	11[h]	4	2	1	—		—		21	7
	Total		29	2	11	4	2	1	4	0	—		46	7
Al Wehda	2018-19	Saudi Pro League	20	0	—		—		—		—		20	0
	2019-20		25	10	—		2	0	—		—		27	10
	2020-21		26	4	—		1	0	1[i]	0	—		28	4
	2022-23		27	3	—		4	2	—		—		31	5
	2023-24		30	5	—		2	0	—		1[j]	0	33	5
	Total		128	22	—		9	2	1	0	1	0	139	24
Al Nassr	2021-22	Saudi Pro League	20	0	—		2	0	—		—		22	0
Career Total			292	28	81	7	17	3	6	0	4	0	400	38

1. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista Série A1
2. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista Série A2
3. Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista
4. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Catarinense
5. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
6. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Gaúcho
7. Appearance(s) in Primeira Liga
8. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Pernambucano
9. Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League
10. Appearance(s) in Saudi Super Cup

Honours

Joinville

• Brazilian Série B: 2014

Johor Darul Ta'zim

• Malaysia Super League: 2024–25
• Malaysia Cup: 2024–25