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Ricardo Santos (footballer, born 1995)
Cape Verdean footballer (born 1995) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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Club career
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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]
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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 subsequently made his debut for the Tubarões Azuis on 3 June, playing 90 minutes in a 3–0 away win over Malaysia.[citation needed]
Career statistics
- As of match played 12 April 2025
- Appearances in FA Trophy
- Appearances in EFL Trophy
- One appearance in FA Trophy, two appearances in National League playoffs
- Five appearances in EFL Trophy, two appearances in League One play-offs
- Three appearances in EFL Trophy, three appearance in League One play-offs
Honours
Bolton Wanderers
- EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2020–21[44][39]
- EFL Trophy: 2022–23[22]
Individual
References
External links
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