| João Neves | |
| Full Name: | João Pedro Gonçalves Neves |
| Birth Date: | 27 September 2004 |
| Birth Place: | Tavira, Portugal |
| Height: | 1.74 m[1] |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Clubnumber: | 87 |
| Youthclubs1: | Casa Benfica Tavira |
| Youthclubs2: | Benfica Algarve |
| Youthyears3: | 2016–2022 |
| Youthclubs3: | Benfica |
| Years1: | 2022–2023 |
| Clubs1: | Benfica B |
| Caps1: | 11 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2022–2024 |
| Clubs2: | Benfica |
| Caps2: | 50 |
| Goals2: | 4 |
| Years3: | 2024– |
| Clubs3: | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Caps3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019–2021 |
| Nationalteam1: | Portugal U15 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2021–2023 |
| Nationalteam2: | Portugal U19 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 17 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 3 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2023 |
| Nationalteam3: | Portugal U21 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 6 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 1 |
| Nationalyears4: | 2023– |
| Nationalteam4: | Portugal |
| Nationalcaps4: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals4: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 22:07, 16 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 23:38, 26 June 2024 (UTC) |
João Pedro Gonçalves Neves (pronounced as /pt/; born 27 September 2004) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Portugal national team.
Coming through Benfica's youth system, Neves impressed during his time with the reserve side, winning the UEFA Youth League in 2021–22, being instrumental part of Benfica's first European trophy in 60 years. He was subsequently promoted to the first-team, making his professional debut at age 18, where he helped Benfica win the league title in his first season with them. In August 2024, he joined Paris Saint-Germain for a transfer fee of €60 million.
Neves is a former Portugal youth international, representing his country at various levels. He made his senior international debut in 2023.
Born in Tavira, Neves began his youth career with hometown club Casa Benfica Tavira, one of Benfica's feeder clubs, he then spent four seasons in Benfica's development centre in Algarve, before moving to Benfica's main academy in 2016.[2] Neves signed his first professional contract with Benfica in December 2020.[3]
Neves was a part of the Benfica U19 team which topped their 2021–22 UEFA Youth League group against Dynamo Kyiv, Barcelona and Bayern Munich,[4] [5] and eventually won the tournament. [6] He made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 1–1 LigaPro draw to Académico de Viseu on 6 August 2022.[7] On 24 August, Neves started in Benfica's 1–0 against Peñarol at the 2022 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.[8]
During the league break to facilitate the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he made his unofficial debut for Benfica's first team on 11 December 2022, in a closed-doors friendly against Sevilla.[9] During this time, Benfica's first team manager Roger Schmidt invited him to participate in several first-team training sessions, impressing him with his ability, dedication and maturity on the ball. On December 21, Neves signed a contract extension with Benfica until 2028.[10] He made his debut for the senior team on the first day of 2023, coming on late as a substitute in the 3–0 defeat to Braga in the Primeira Liga.[11] On 7 March, Neves made his UEFA Champions League debut, replacing João Mário in the 74th minute and providing an assist on Benfica's fifth goal, in their 5–1 home win against Club Brugge in the second leg of the Champions League round-of-16.[12]
In the final months of the season, following the departure of Enzo Fernández, Neves eventually earned a place in the starting eleven over Florentino Luís, most notably scoring his first goal for the club on 21 May against crosstown rivals Sporting CP in the Derby de Lisboa, securing his side a draw after they were down by two goals at half-time.[13] [14] He would make 17 league appearances for Benfica as they sealed their first league title in four years, following a 3–0 home win over Santa Clara, on the final day of the league campaign.[15]
Neves started the 2023–24 season, on 9 August, being named man of the match in the 2–0 victory over Porto in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.[16] On 12 November, Neves scored the 94th minute equalizer in an eventual 2–1 league victory over rivals Sporting CP, at the Estádio da Luz;[17] while also receiving the Man of the Match award.[18] Over the following months, Neves established himself as one of the best midfielders in Portugal, being voted as the Primeira Liga's Midfielder of the Month between the months September and December, a feat which he repeated in February and March 2024, with only Braga's Rodrigo Zalazar winning it in January.[19] At the end of the season, despite Benfica finishing as runners-up in the league, Neves was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year.
In July 2024, it was reported that Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain had made an initial bid for Neves of €70 million (£59 million).[20] Their offer was rejected and negotiations continued, with Benfica being adamant that he would not be sold for less than his €120 million release clause, despite PSG agreeing personal terms with Neves.[21] Shortly after, Benfica's President Rui Costa denied that he "would only leave for his release clause and therefore, those claims were false", but confirmed the club had received a bid for him, with negotiations between them and a club still proceeding.[22] [23] On 2 August, Rui Costa confirmed Neves' departure to Paris Saint-Germain, stating that he could not refuse a €70 million offer for him, leading Benfica to confirm his transfer three days later.[24] [25]
On 5 August 2024, Neves signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), for a fee of €60 million fee plus €10 million in add-ons, and Renato Sanches moving in the other direction on a loan deal.[26] [27] [28] On 16 August, he made his official debut in a 4–1 win over Le Havre, coming on as a substitute and assisting Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola goals in PSG's win.[29] [30]
Neves represented Portugal at under-15 and under-19, for a total of 21 caps.[31] In June 2023, Neves took part in the 2023 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, scoring his first goal on 27 June in a 2–1 against Belgium.[32] Portugal were eliminated from the tournament, on 2 July, after a 1–0 loss to England in the quarter-finals.[33]
On 6 October 2023, Neves was called up to the Portuguese team for the first time for UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Slovakia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.[34] He debuted the same year on 16 October, coming off the bench to replace Otávio in the 85th minute of a 5–0 away victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina.[35]
On 21 May 2024, Neves was selected in the 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2024.[36] With Portugal having secured qualification from their group, he debuted in the competition as a starter in a 2–0 loss against Georgia.[37] [38] Neves did not appear in the knockout stage as they were eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-finals after losing to France 5–3 in a penalty shootout.[39]
A footballer praised for his mature, highly developed mental attributes on the field since a young age,[40] João Neves is a quick, agile and technically gifted central midfielder, with notable passing and tackling skills, quick reactions, and close ball control. He is also known for his stamina, bravery and composure on the ball, as well as for his balance and the ability to retain possession in tight spaces when under pressure. In addition, despite his relatively slight frame, he ranks high on the percentile for aerial battles won.[41] [42]
He usually plays for Benfica as a deep-lying playmaker, primarily playing in a double pivot in a 4–2–3–1 formation. There, he has a key role in their attempts to dictate possession. Neves usually drops deep and receive the ball, at times inside his own box. His acceleration over short distances allows him to create distance from his marker, without needing too much disguise or deceptive movement. His versatility also allows him to drop between central defenders, or between a central defender and full-back, to create overloads in the build phase. His most potent ability is evading this pressure, using his agility and low centre of gravity to roll away to the opposite side of the defender's approach and accelerate into the space beyond. His athletic attributes enable him to excel in the counter-press, where he reacts immediately to losing possession, engaging the opposing ball-carrier to restrict their time and space.[43] [44]
| Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Benfica B | 2022–23 | Liga Portugal 2 | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | |||||
| Benfica | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 3 | ||
| Total | 50 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 75 | 4 | |||
| Paris Saint-Germain | 2024–25 | Ligue 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 62 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 4 | |||
| Portugal | 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 9 | 0 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Benfica Youth
2021–22[45]
Individual
October/November 2023,[56] February 2024[57]