William Carvalho


William Silva de Carvalho is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Betis and the Portugal national team as a defensive midfielder.
He spent most of his career with Sporting CP since making his debut with the first team at the age of 18, going on to appear in 192 competitive games and win the 2015 Portuguese Cup.
A full international for Portugal since 2013, Carvalho represented the nation in two World Cups and Euro 2016, winning the latter tournament.

Early life

Born in Luanda, Carvalho moved to Portugal when he was just a few years old. His grandfather Praia and his uncle Afonso were also footballers, and played for Angolan club Progresso Associação do Sambizanga.

Club career

Sporting CP

After moving to Portugal, Carvalho first started playing in the streets, and eventually got picked up by Recreios Desportivos de Algueirão. In 2004, he moved to União Sport Clube de Mira Sintra where he was the youngest player in the team and also their captain. He joined Sporting CP's youth system at the age of 13, making his official debut with the first team on 3 April 2011 by playing injury time in a 1–1 away draw against Vitória S.C. for the Primeira Liga championship, then spent six months on loan to C.D. Fátima in the third division.
Still owned by the Lisbon side, Carvalho played one-and-a-half seasons with Cercle Brugge K.S.V. in the Belgian Pro League starting from January 2012, featuring alongside several Sporting teammates who were there on the same basis. His first professional goal came on 7 April in a 6–4 home win over OH Leuven, and a year later he helped the team to the final of the Belgian Cup, where they lost 0–2 to K.R.C. Genk at the Stade Roi Baudouin.
Carvalho then returned for the 2013–14 campaign, being a defensive mainstay for newly appointed coach Leonardo Jardim and scoring his first goal for the side on 27 October, netting the 1–1 equaliser in an eventual 1–3 loss at FC Porto. In the following summer he caught the attention of several European clubs, with Arsenal having their £13 million plus Joel Campbell offer rejected. Sporting only acquired the totality of Carvalho's rights in November 2014, with third-party ownership adding to the difficulties of any possible deal.
Carvalho began 2014–15 by seeing a red card – his first ever – in a 1–1 home draw against Académica de Coimbra, receiving his marching orders after a second bookable offense in the 65th minute. He went on to conquer his first club trophy, that season's Portuguese Cup, playing the full 120 minutes in the final win over S.C. Braga.
Among continued transfer speculation linking him with a number of Premier League sides, including Arsenal again, manager Jorge Jesus claimed Carvalho would remain at the club. On 14 July 2015, Sporting confirmed the player had suffered a stress fracture in his tibia, which would sideline him for three months; in 2017, approaches from West Ham United caused a breakdown in relations between the two clubs that was later resolved.
On 15 May 2018, Carvalho and several of his teammates, including coaches, were injured following an attack by around 50 supporters of Sporting at the club's training ground after the team finished third in the league and missed out on qualification to the UEFA Champions League. Despite the events, he and the rest of the team agreed to play in the Portuguese Cup final scheduled for the following weekend, eventually losing to C.D. Aves.

Betis

On 13 July 2018, Carvalho joined Real Betis on a five-year contract. The club paid €16 million plus an additional €4 million in variable costs for 75% of the player's rights, with €10 million more to come later for a further 20% of his rights depending on certain conditions and achievements. He made his La Liga debut on 17 August, playing 65 minutes in a 0–3 home loss against Levante UD.

International career

Eligible for both Portugal and Angola, Carvalho chose to represent the former. When he was still part of the Portugal under-20s the Angolan Football Federation tried to call him up, but were rejected.
Carvalho made his debut with the Portuguese under-21 team on 15 October 2012, in a 0–1 friendly loss with Ukraine. He scored twice during the 2015 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, in home wins against Norway and Israel.
Carvalho was first summoned by full side manager Paulo Bento in November 2013, for the 2014 FIFA World Cup playoffs against Sweden. He won his first cap in the second leg on the 19th, coming on as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 3–2 away triumph.
On 19 May 2014, Carvalho was named in the final 23-man squad for the tournament in Brazil. He made his debut in the competition on 22 June, playing the second half of the 2–2 group stage draw against the United States after replacing injured André Almeida; he played all 90 minutes in the next match to help to a 2–1 win over Ghana, but the national team went out on goal difference.
Carvalho played all the matches and minutes at the 2015 European Under-21 Championship. He was elected player of the tournament due to his performances, even though he missed the decisive attempt in the penalty shootout in the final against Sweden, with it saved by Patrik Carlgren after a 0–0 draw in Prague.
At UEFA Euro 2016 in France, Carvalho was suspended from Portugal's semi-final victory over Wales, but regained his place from Danilo in the final, a 1–0 win over the hosts at the Stade de France. He scored his first international goal on 13 November 2016, contributing to a 4–1 home defeat of Latvia for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
In May 2018, Carvalho was selected by Fernando Santos for the upcoming World Cup in Russia.

Style of play

Carvalho plays primarily as a defensive midfielder, although he can also be deployed as a central midfielder or a central defender. Known for his passing range and accuracy, ability to control a game and composure on the pitch, he earned praise for his imposing physicality.
In spite of lacking pace, Carvalho acted fast when it came to decision making. He was often compared to Patrick Vieira.

Career statistics

Club

International

National teamYearAppsGoals
Portugal201310
Portugal2014100
Portugal201540
Portugal2016141
Portugal2017111
Portugal2018130
Portugal201962
PortugalTotal594

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.13 November 2016Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal2–14–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
2.31 August 2017Estádio do Bessa, Porto, Portugal3–15–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
3.7 September 2019Red Star Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia1–04–2UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying
4.10 September 2019LFF Stadium, Vilnius, Lithuania5–15–1UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying

Honours

Club

Sporting
Portugal U21
Portugal