Kristopher Da Graca Explained

Kristopher Da Graca
Full Name:Kristopher Santos Da Graca
Birth Date:16 January 1998
Birth Place:Gothenburg, Sweden
Height:1.90 m
Currentclub:Sirius
Position:Centre back
Youthyears1:–2013
Youthclubs1:Hisingsbacka FC
Youthyears2:2013–2017
Youthclubs2:Arsenal
Years1:2017–2020
Clubs1:IFK Göteborg
Caps1:51
Goals1:0
Years2:2021–2022
Clubs2:VVV-Venlo
Caps2:35
Goals2:0
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Sirius
Caps3:30
Goals3:0
Years4:2023
Clubs4:HJK (loan)
Caps4:5
Goals4:0
Years5:2024
Clubs5:KuPS (loan)
Caps5:11
Goals5:0
Nationalyears1:2013–2014
Nationalcaps1:4
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:2015–2016
Nationalcaps2:3
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2020
Nationalcaps3:1
Nationalgoals3:0
Nationalyears4:2023–
Nationalcaps4:1
Nationalgoals4:0
Pcupdate:19 October 2024
Ntupdate:13:24, 19 October 2023 (UTC)

Kristopher Santos Da Graca (born 16 January 1998) is a footballer who plays as a centre back for Sirius. Born in Sweden, he plays for the Cape Verde national team.

Club career

On 6 January 2021, Da Graca was transferred from Swedish side IFK Göteborg to Dutch club VVV-Venlo.[1]

On 29 January 2022, Da Graca returned to Sweden and signed with IK Sirius.[2]

On 27 July 2023, Da Graca was loaned out to Finnish club HJK Helsinki for the rest of the 2023 season with a purchase option. After the season, he returned to Sirius.[3] [4] On 1 March 2024, Da Graca was loaned out to Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in Veikkausliiga for the 2024 season, with a purchase option.[5]

International career

Da Graca was born in Sweden to parents from Cape Verde.[6] He was a youth international for Sweden. In January 2020, he was selected for the Swedish national a-team's international training matches in Doha, Qatar against Moldova and Kosovo by head coach, Janne Andersson. He is still eligible to represent Cape Verde due to his heritage.

He made his international debut for the Sweden national team on 12 January 2020 in a friendly game against Kosovo.[7]

On 4 October 2023, Da Graca got a call-up to Cape Verde national team for friendly matches against Algeria and Comoros, on 12 and 17 October 2023, respectively.[8] On 17 October, he debuted with the Cape Verdean national side and was included in the starting lineup in a friendly match against Comoros hosted at Stade Parsemain in Fos-sur-Mer, France. His side lost the match 2–1.[9]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueCupLeague cupEuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
IFK Göteborg2017Allsvenskan701080
2018Allsvenskan400040
2019Allsvenskan22020240
2020Allsvenskan1800000180
Total510300000540
VVV-Venlo2020–21Eredivisie20020220
2021–22Eerste Divisie15010160
Total350300000380
Sirius2022Allsvenskan22010230
2023Allsvenskan8020100
Total300300000330
HJK Helsinki (loan)2023Veikkausliiga5000004090
KuPS (loan)2024Veikkausliiga110402010180
KuPS Akatemia (loan)2024Ykkönen1010
Career total133013020501530

Honours

HJK

2023

KuPS

2024[10]

2024

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 6 January 2021. VVV-Venlo sign Swedish centre-back with Arsenal past. 6 January 2021. Football Oranje.
  2. IK Sirius. Kristopher Da Graca klar för Sirius Fotboll. 29 January 2022. 7 February 2022. sv.
  3. https://www.hjk.fi/artikkelit/miehet/kristopher-da-graca-ruotsista-lainalle-klubiin/ Kristopher Da Graca Ruotsista lainalle Klubiin
  4. https://www.veikkausliiga.com/uutiset/2023/12/15/veikkausliigan-pelaajasiirrot-talvikaudella-2023-24 Pelaajasiirrot 2023-24 seuroittain
  5. https://kups.fi/da-graca/ KuPSille kova vahvistus – tervetuloa Kuopioon Da Graca!
  6. Web site: Kristopher da Graça o filho de cabo-verdiano que joga no Arsenal - DTudo1Pouco. dtudo1pouco.com. 8 April 2016 .
  7. Web site: Kristopher Da Graca — svenskfotboll.se. www2.svenskfotboll.se. 2020-03-05.
  8. Web site: Seleção Masculina defronta Argelia e Comores em compromisso amigável . 4 October 2023.
  9. Web site: Cape Verde vs. Comoros 2023-10-17. NationalFootballTeams.com. 18 November 2023.
  10. https://yle.fi/a/74-20118969 Kuopio villiintyi KuPSin mestaruudesta – Eini ilmestyi juhlahumuun