Adryan has always been treated as a prolific player with creativity. Champion for Flamengo at youth level in 2010, the midfielder was selected, at that time aged 16, to play in the 2011Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, was one of the top players in the tournament and finished as champion. After the good campaign in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo gave him a chance to train in the pre-season preparation with the professional team to fill the void left by Ronaldinho. He debuted in a friendly match against Londrina at Estádio do Café on 9 February 2011. He spent little time training with the professional team as he was selected to play with the Brazil U-17 team in the 2011 South American Under-17 Football Championship, being champion. A few months later he was again selected to play in the Brazil U-17 team, but this at a higher level in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. During the competition he was linked with Manchester United. On 1 July 2012, Adryan played his first game for the Brazilian Série A, against Atlético Goianiense, and he scored in the 3–2 Flamengo victory. On 16 September 2012 he scored a freekick at the age of 16 for the Flamengo first team to help earn Flamengo a draw against Grêmio.
Cagliari
On 22 January 2014, it was announced that Adryan would go on loan to Cagliari Calcio for one-and-a-half seasons. He played as Cagliari's no. 32. He made his debut for Cagliari on 1 February in Serie A against Fiorentina. Adryan played in the following 4 fixtures after making his debut, however he picked up a thigh injury against Inter Milan on 23 February and had to be replaced by Sebastian Eriksson, after recovering from injury he played against Udinese on 2 March 2014, Under new owners and new management, Adryan was given the no. 10 shirt for the upcoming 2014–15 season.
On 30 August 2014, after speaking highly of Adryan, Leeds United president and former Cagliari owner Massimo Cellino negotiated a deal with his former club to terminate Adryan's loan deal, taking him to the Elland Road club on a season-long loan with the option of a permanent move, with an agreed transfer price of around £3 million. Adryan was given the number 9 shirt for the 2014–15 season. Adryan made his Leeds debut as a substitute against Rotherham United in a 2–1 loss on 17 October. He made his first Leeds start in the following game, in a 1–1 draw against Norwich City, providing an assist for teammate Souleymane Doukara's equaliser. He followed this up against Blackpool with 4 key passes, 2 key dribbles and an assist. On 29 November of the same year, Adryan had perhaps his most memorable act: a spectacular dive after he was tackled by Johnny Russell in the match between Leeds and Derby County, which Leeds won 2–0 at Elland Road. Russell was shown a yellow card for the tackle, but on 12 January 2015, Adryan was "awarded" the "Fallon d'Floor"—a parody of the Ballon d'Or, which was awarded the same day—by users of Reddit. Adryan received 32 percent of the vote, beating out competition from Giancarlo González, then of Columbus Crew, and Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid among others.
Nantes
On 26 June 2015, it was announced that Adryan had joined French Ligue 1 side FC Nantes in a season-long loan move.
Adryan was a key player for Brazil U-17 team in the 2011 South American Under-17 Football Championship victorious campaign. He played eight matches and scored three goals in the tournament and finished as champion. The young player has been called up by coach Émerson Ávila alongside Lucas Piazón as the biggest stars of Brazil U-17 team in the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup. On 23 June 2011 Adryan scored the winning goal against Australia U-17 with a fine free-kick. On 26 June 2011 he scored the equaliser in the 90th minute to level Brazil U-17 with Ivory Coast U-17. In 2012, Adryan was called up to the Brazil U-20 where he impressed, this time in the Mediterranean International Cup, where the Brazil team were eliminated in the semi-final, but Adryan was named Mediterranean International Cup Player of the tournament.
Style of play
In 2012, he was included in the list of the 101 best players born after 1991 compiled by Don Balón. In his homeland, Adryan is nicknamed herdeiro de Zico meaning 'heir of Zico' and il nuovo Zico. Adryan's style of play has been compared to that of Brazilian compatriot Kaká, due to his skill and playmaker ability whilst playing in the 'number 10' role. Adryan can also play as a central midfielder and as a second striker. He is also renowned for being a free kick specialist. Adryan was voted the winner of the 2014 Fallon d'Floor award for the most theatrical dive of the year by users of Reddit.
