Dyego Wilverson Ferreira Sousa is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Benfica on loan from Chinese club Shenzhen F.C. He spent most of his career in Portugal, making 112 appearances and scoring 42 goals in the Primeira Liga for Marítimo and Braga. In the second tier, he played 66 games and scored 13 goals for four clubs. Born and raised in Brazil, Sousa made his international debut for Portugal in 2019 and was part of their squad that won the 2018–19 UEFA Nations League.
Club career
Early career
Born in São Luís, Maranhão, Sousa began his career at his hometown team Moto Club de São Luís' youth setup before moving to Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras in 2005, aged 15. Released by the club in the following year, he subsequently joined C.D. Nacional's under-20 squad after a trial period. Sent back to Brazil in the middle of 2008 to nurse an injury, Sousa never returned to Nacional. In 2009, he returned to Moto Club and made his senior debut on 19 February, starting in a 2–1 Campeonato Maranhense away loss against São José de Ribamar Esporte Clube; his first goal for the club came on 23 April, in a 2–2 draw against the same opponent. On 13 November 2009, Sousa joined Operário Ferroviário Esporte Clube, and made his debut for the club the following 17 January, by starting in a 1–0 home win against Cascavel Clube Recreativo, for the year's Campeonato Paranaense. He scored his first goal for the club on 31 March, netting his team's second in a 2–2 home draw against the same opponent, but was released in April after scoring only two goals.
Leixões
In July 2010, Sousa moved abroad for the first time, joining Leixões S.C. of the Portuguese Liga de Honra. He made his professional debut on 8 August, starting in a 0–0 away draw against C.D. Trofense, for the season's Taça da Liga; his first goal abroad occurred on 10 November, in a 2–1 loss at F.C. Paços de Ferreira, also for the league cup. Sousa contributed with three goals in 14 appearances overall, as his side finished sixth.
Interclube
In June 2011, Sousa switched continents again, signing for G.D. Interclube in the Girabola of Angola. However, he failed to make a single appearance during his time at the club, as his international certificate never arrived; he subsequently terminated his contract with the club in early 2012, but still remained six months without a club.
Tondela / Portimonense
Sousa returned to Portugal's second tier in 2012 with C.D. Tondela, being a regular starter during the campaign and scoring four times. The following year, he moved to fellow second division side Portimonense S.C.. At Portimonense, Sousa scored braces against Atlético Clube de Portugal and C.S. Marítimo B, finishing his only year with seven goals overall.
Marítimo
On 13 July 2014, Sousa signed a three-year contract with Primeira Liga club C.S. Marítimo. In his first season on the island of Madeira he scored twice, both in a 4–0 home win over Boavista F.C. on 30 November, but the following campaign he recorded 12 goals and made the top ten scorers of the year. He also started six matches in the club's Taça da Liga run, that ended on 20 May 2016 with a 6–2 loss to S.L. Benfica in the final at the Estádio Cidade de Coimbra. In August 2016 in a friendly against Tondela, Sousa attacked a linesman, and was given a nine-month ban by the Portuguese Football Federation in November, which was rescinded by a court the following month.
Braga
Sousa and compatriot teammate Fransérgio agreed on 31 January 2017 to transfer to S.C. Braga at the end of the season by which point he would be out of contract; he signed a four-year deal and Marítimo secured a share of any subsequent transfer fee. On 12 August 2018, in the season opener, Sousa was one of three players to score two goals in a 4–2 win at home to C.D. Nacional. He scored a hat-trick on 14 December in a 4–0 win over C.D. Feirense also at the Estádio Municipal de Braga. Sousa and teammate Paulinho were joint top scorers with four goals in the 2018–19 Taça da Liga with four goals each, including a third-minute strike in the defeat to eventual champions Sporting CP in the semi-final. On 6 March 2019, he signed a new contract until 2022, and finished the league campaign as Braga's top scorer with 15 goals.
Shenzhen
After rejecting bids of €12–15 million in January, Braga sold Sousa to Chinese Super League club Shenzhen F.C. for €5.6 million in July 2019. In his third game, he scored his first two goals in a 4–0 home win over Guangzhou R&F F.C. on 14 August to escape the relegation zone. On 31 January 2020, Sousa returned to Portugal's top flight, joining S.L. Benfica on loan without the option to sign. He debuted eight days later in a 3–2 loss at FC Porto in O Clássico, replacing André Almeida for the last five minutes.
