Wellington (footballer, born 1988)

Wellington Luís de Sousa (born 11 February 1988), commonly known as Wellington, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for J1 League club Avispa Fukuoka.^[2]

Wellington

Wellington with Botafogo at press conference in 2020
Personal information
Full name	Wellington Luís de Sousa
Date of birth	(1988-02-11) 11 February 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Ourinhos, São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Striker
Team information
Current team	Avispa Fukuoka
Number	17
Youth career
0000–2007	Internacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2008	Internacional	7	(0)
2007	→ São Caetano (loan)	6	(0)
2008	→ Náutico (loan)	14	(5)
2008–2012	1899 Hoffenheim	19	(3)
2009–2010	→ Twente (loan)	3	(0)
2010	→ Fortuna Düsseldorf (loan)	6	(1)
2011	→ Figueirense (loan)	4	(1)
2011	→ Goiás (loan)	8	(1)
2012	→ Linense (loan)	10	(1)
2013	Pelotas	12	(2)
2013–2014	Shonan Bellmare	54	(23)
2015	Ponte Preta	9	(2)
2015–2017	Avispa Fukuoka	83	(31)
2018–2020	Vissel Kobe	43	(11)
2020	Botafogo-SP	32	(8)
2021–2022	Shonan Bellmare	53	(8)
2023–	Avispa Fukuoka	66	(5)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16:13, 18 March 2025 (UTC)

Career

Wellington started his professional career in 2007 with Sport Club Internacional. In the same year, he was lent to São Caetano.

He played for Náutico in 2008 also on loan, before Wellington left Internacional for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on 7 August 2008. He played only 18 games and was loaned out to FC Twente on 31 August 2009.

On 6 July 2010, he was loaned out to Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 2. Bundesliga. He made his debut in the DFB-Pokal match against TuS Koblenz on 15 August 2010 and scored his first goal – a wide distance shot from 35 meters – as a substitute during a 1–2 defeat against Hertha BSC Berlin on 30 August.^[3]

In the winter break, he returned to Brazil, transferring to Figueirense on loan.^[4]

On 2 August 2012, his contract until June 2013 at 1899 Hoffenheim was terminated in mutual consent.^[5] After playing for EC Pelotas in the first half of 2013, he was acquired by Shonan Bellmare.^[6]

On 26 December 2017, Wellington was announced at Vissel Kobe.^[7]

On 21 December 2020, Wellington was announced at Shonan Bellmare.^[8]

On 1 March 2023, Wellington was announced at Avispa Fukuoka.^[9]

Career statistics

As of 3 December 2023^[10][11][12]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State League		National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shonan Bellmare	2013	J1 League	16	3	–		1	0	0	0	–		17	3
	2014	J2 League	38	20	–		2	0	0	0	–		40	20
	Total		54	23	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	57	23
Ponte Preta	2015	Série A	–		9	2	1	0	–		–		10	2
Avispa Fukuoka	2015	J2 League	18	7	–		2	0	0	0	2[a]	1	22	8
	2016	J1 League	29	5	–		0	0	2	1	–		31	6
	2017	J2 League	36	19	–		0	0	0	0	2[a]	0	38	19
	Total		83	31	0	0	2	0	2	1	4	1	91	33
Vissel Kobe	2018	J1 League	28	5	–		3	3	6	3	–		37	11
	2019		15	6	–		1	0	6	4	–		22	10
	Total		43	11	0	0	4	3	12	7	0	0	59	21
Botafogo-SP	2020	Série B	23	5	9	3	–		–		–		32	8
Shonan Bellmare	2021	J1 League	26	6	–		2	0	5	1	–		33	7
	2022		27	2	–		2	0	6	0	–		35	2
	Total		53	8	0	0	4	0	11	1	0	0	68	9
Avispa Fukuoka	2023	J1 League	27	3	–		5	2	10	3	–		42	8
Career total			283	81	18	5	19	5	35	12	4	1	359	104

1. Appearances in Promotion Playoffs to J1.

Honours

FC Twente

• Eredivisie: 2009–10

Shonan Bellmare

• J2 League: 2014

Vissel Kobe

• Emperor's Cup: 2019^[13]

Avispa Fukuoka

• J.League Cup: 2023^[14]