João Victor de Souza Menezes (Brazilian Portuguese: [ʒuˈɐ̃w viˈkoʁ dʒi ˈso(w)za meˈnezis];[1] born 16 June 2006), commonly known as Souza, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a left-back for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Victor de Souza Menezes | ||
| Date of birth | 16 June 2006 | ||
| Place of birth | Mauá, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tottenham Hotspur | ||
| Number | 38 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Juventus-SP (futsal) | |||
| 2016–2024 | Santos | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Santos | 37 | (1) |
| 2026– | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2023 | Brazil U17 | 12 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:20, 15 March 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editSantos
editBorn in Mauá, São Paulo, Souza joined Santos' youth setup in 2016, aged nine, after playing for the futsal team of Juventus-SP.[2] On 12 July 2022, he signed his first professional contract with the club, after agreeing to a three-year deal.[3]
On 6 February 2024, Souza was registered in the first team squad for the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, after Kevyson's injury.[4] He made his first team debut five days later, coming on as a second-half substitute for goalscorer Hayner in a 2–2 away draw against Mirassol.[5][6]
Mainly a backup to Gonzalo Escobar, Souza played in eight Série B matches as the club achieved promotion back to the top tier as champions. On 28 November 2024, he renewed his contract until 2028.[7]
In January 2025, Souza suffered an ankle injury, being sidelined for three months.[8] Still a second-choice behind Escobar, he scored his first professional goal on 26 October, netting his side's first in a 2–2 away draw against Botafogo.
Tottenham Hotspur
editOn 22 January 2026, Souza joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on a long-term contract for a rumoured fee of £13 million.[9][10][11] Souza made his debut for Spurs on 7 February 2026, coming on as a substitute in the 2–0 away loss to Manchester United.[12] He made his first start for the club on 5 March, against Crystal Palace.[13][14]
International career
editIn September 2022, Souza was called up to the Brazil national under-17 team for a training period aiming at the 2023 South American U-17 Championship,[15] and he was included in the 23-man squad on 8 March 2023.[16] A regular starter as the nation lifted the trophy, he was also called up to the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup,[17] playing in four of Brazil's five matches in the competition.
On 17 May 2024, Souza and Santos teammates JP Chermont and Jair were called up to the Brazil national under-20 team for a period of training.[18]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 15 March 2026[19]
| Club | Season | League | State league[a] | National cup[b] | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santos | 2024 | Série B | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| 2025 | Série A | 24 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 29 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 32 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 38 | 1 | |||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2025–26 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 36 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 1 | ||
- ↑ Includes Campeonato Paulista
- ↑ Includes Copa do Brasil
Honours
editReferences
edit- ↑ Tottenham Hotspur (22 January 2026). "João Victor de Souza Meneses". Instagram.
- ↑ "Lateral Souza e atacante João Victor são observados por Carille após Copinha" [Full-back Souza and forward João Victor are watched by Carille after the Copinha] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Santos assina primeiro contrato profissional com lateral esquerdo do time sub-17" [Santos sign first professional contract with left-back from the under-17 team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 12 July 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Santos inscreve lateral-esquerdo Souza no Campeonato Paulista" [Santos register left-back Souza in the Campeonato Paulista] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Santos sofre gol no fim e empata com o Mirassol fora de casa" [Santos suffer goal in the end and draw with Mirassol away from home] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 11 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
- ↑ "Na estreia no profissional, lateral de 17 anos do Santos sofre lesão muscular na coxa" [On his professional debut, Santos' 17-year-old full-back suffers muscular injury in his thigh] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Gazeta Esportiva. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
- ↑ "Santos FC renova o contrato do lateral Souza" [Santos FC renew the contract of full-back Souza] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 29 November 2024.
- ↑ "Lateral Souza irá passar por cirurgia no tornozelo e desfalca o Santos" [Full-back Souza will undergo surgery on his ankle and is an absence for Santos] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ↑ "Souza signs from Santos". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
- ↑ "Tottenham complete transfer of Santos defender Souza". ESPN. 22 January 2026. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ↑ "A caminho do Tottenham, Souza se despede do Santos: "Saio de cabeça erguida"" [Moving to Tottenham, Souza bids farewell from Santos: "I leave with my head held high"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 January 2026.
- ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c0jv0846ev3t
- ↑ Sutcliffe, Steve (5 March 2026). "Spurs 1-3 Crystal Palace: Hosts' relegation worries deepen in dismal defeat". BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ Gold, Alasdair (5 March 2026). "Tottenham team confirmed vs Crystal Palace - Souza starts with Xavi and Conor Gallagher benched". football.london. Retrieved 24 May 2026.
- ↑ "Três atletas do Santos FC são convocados para a Seleção Brasileira sub-17" [Three Santos FC athletes are called up to the Brazil national under-17 team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Souza e JP Chermont são convocados para o Sul-Americano sub-17" [Souza and JP Chermont are called up to the South American U-17 Championship] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Santos FC. 10 March 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Lateral do Santos é convocado para a Copa do Mundo Sub-17" [Santos full-back is called up to the U-17 World Cup] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 11 October 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ↑ "Jair, Souza e JP Chermont são convocados para a Seleção Brasileira Sub-20" [Jair, Souza and JP Chermont are called up to the Brazil national under-20 team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Diário do Peixe. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- ↑ Souza at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 February 2024.