Nuno da Costa explained

Nuno da Costa
Fullname:Nuno Miguel da Costa Jóia[1]
Birth Date:10 February 1991
Birth Place:Praia, Cape Verde
Height:1.84 m[2]
Position:Forward, winger
Currentclub:Kasımpaşa
Clubnumber:18
Youthyears1:2003–2005
Youthclubs1:União Mercês
Years1:2011–2015
Clubs1:Aubagne
Caps1:66
Goals1:22
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Valenciennes II
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:2015–2017
Clubs3:Valenciennes
Caps3:45
Goals3:19
Years4:2017–2020
Clubs4:Strasbourg
Caps4:74
Goals4:14
Years5:2018
Clubs5:Strasbourg II
Caps5:1
Goals5:1
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Nottingham Forest
Caps6:12
Goals6:0
Years7:2020–2021
Clubs7:Mouscron (loan)
Caps7:25
Goals7:6
Years8:2021–2022
Clubs8:Caen (loan)
Caps8:24
Goals8:9
Years9:2022–2023
Clubs9:Auxerre
Caps9:38
Goals9:5
Years10:2023–
Clubs10:Kasımpaşa
Caps10:29
Goals10:14
Nationalyears1:2016–2018
Nationalteam1:Cape Verde
Nationalcaps1:3
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:23 June 2024

Nuno Miguel da Costa Jóia (born 10 February 1991), known as Nuno da Costa, is a Cape Verdean professional footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Süper Lig club Kasımpaşa.

Raised in France, he began his senior career with Aubagne in the fifth tier before moving to Valenciennes of Ligue 2 in 2015. Two years later he debuted in Ligue 1 with Strasbourg, where he won the Coupe de la Ligue in 2019. In January 2020, he signed for Nottingham Forest.

Da Costa scored on his senior international debut for Cape Verde in June 2016.

Club career

Early career

Born in Praia, Cape Verde, Da Costa was raised in Portugal from 1993 and began playing with U.R. Mercês in Lisbon. He then moved to Aubagne in southern France, where he started his senior career with Aubagne FC in France's fifth tier.

On 4 January 2014, Da Costa scored the opening goal of a 3–3 draw at home to Ligue 2 club Dijon FCO in the last 64 of the Coupe de France, losing on penalties.[3]

Valenciennes

Da Costa joined Valenciennes FC of Ligue 2 on 3 August 2015, following a season of 14 goals and eight assists.[4] In his first professional season, he scored ten goals, including two on 6 May 2016 in a 4–1 win away to relegated Paris FC.[5] He followed this with nine more in his second year, including a brace in a 3–3 home draw with FC Bourg-Peronnas on 18 November.[6]

Strasbourg

On 3 July 2017, Da Costa signed a four-year deal with Ligue 1 club RC Strasbourg, replacing Khalid Boutaïb who had left for Malatyaspor.[7] In his first top-flight season he found the net five times, including both goals of a 2–1 win at OGC Nice on 22 October that earned him a place in L'Équipes team of the week.[8] On 4 November, he was sent off after half an hour of a 2–0 loss at Troyes AC.[9]

Da Costa was an 81st-minute substitute for Lebo Mothiba as they won the 2019 Coupe de la Ligue Final on penalties against EA Guingamp on 30 March.[10] Four days later, he scored twice in a 4–0 win over Stade Reims at the Stade de la Meinau, part of his eight of the season.[11] After that game, former France international Daniel Bravo described Da Costa's goal as "not bad for a black guy" during his beIN Sports punditry; he apologised in person for offence caused to the player, who accepted the apology.[12]

Nottingham Forest

On 29 January 2020, Da Costa joined EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest. The length and cost of the deal was not disclosed.[13] He debuted on 11 February in a 1–0 home loss to Charlton Athletic, playing the last twenty minutes in place of Ryan Yates; days later he was injured in an under-23 game against Crewe Alexandra.[14]

Da Costa was loaned to Belgian First Division A side Royal Excel Mouscron for the season on 5 October 2020, with the option to make the deal permanent.[15] He scored six goals during his stint, including both of a 2–2 home draw with OH Leuven on 15 December.[16]

On 31 August 2021, Da Costa was loaned out again for a year, returning to the French Ligue 2 at Caen.[17]

Auxerre

On 5 August 2022, Da Costa joined Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre.[18] [19]

Kasımpaşa

On 12 September 2023, Da Costa signed for Turkish Süper Lig side Kasımpaşa. The duration of the contract and transfer fee were both undisclosed.[20] [21]

International career

Da Costa made his international debut for Cape Verde on 4 June 2016 in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match away to São Tomé and Príncipe. He came on in the 73rd minute for Garry Rodrigues, and six minutes later scored in a 2–1 win.[22] He did not play again until the return of manager Rui Águas on 9 September 2018, in a 1–1 draw away to Lesotho in the unsuccessful 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.[23]

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aubagne2012–13CFA 220400204
2013–14CFA 221421235
2014–15CFA 22514002514
Total66222100006823
Valenciennes II2015–16CFA 24040
Valenciennes2015–16Ligue 2231010002410
2016–17Ligue 22291010249
Total45192010004819
Strasbourg2017–18Ligue 12652200287
2018–19Ligue 13482030398
2019–20Ligue 114100115[24] 0202
Total74144241508717
Strasbourg II2017–18National 31111
Nottingham Forest2019–20EFL Championship1000000100
2020–21EFL Championship20001030
2021–22EFL Championship00001010
Total1200020140
Mouscron (loan)2020–21First Division A2560000256
Caen (loan)2021–22Ligue 224911002510
Auxerre2022–23Ligue 13353100366
2023–24Ligue 250000050
Total3853100416
Kasımpaşa2023–24Süper Lig9610106
Career total29882135715032388
  1. Web site: Notification of shirt numbers: Nottingham Forest . English Football League . 49 . 23 September 2020.
  2. Web site: Nuno da Costa . Nottingham Forest F.C.. 2 August 2022.
  3. News: Nuno Da Costa : Oser rêver, c'est le premier pas vers la réussite . Daring to dream, that's the first step towards success. 10 March 2020 . U10 . 3 February 2018 . fr.
  4. News: Penland . Erwann . Valenciennes : Un talent de CFA2, CV PRO, s'engage. Valenciennes: A CFA2 talent, with a PRO CV, signs. 10 March 2020 . Foot National . 3 August 2015 . fr.
  5. News: Pruneta . Laurent . Ligue 2: Le Paris FC rate ses adieux, corrigé par Valenciennes (1–4). Ligue 2: Paris FC mess up their goodbye, corrected by Valenciennes (1–4) . 10 March 2020 . . 6 May 2016 . fr.
  6. News: Gotte . Richard . LIGUE 2 Valenciennes trop fébrile pour conclure. LIGUE 2 Valenciennes too feverish to wrap it up. 10 March 2020 . . 18 November 2016 . fr.
  7. News: Nuno Da Costa (Valenciennes) signe à Strasbourg. Nuno Da Costa (Valenciennes) signs for Strasbourg . 10 March 2020 . . 3 July 2017 . fr.
  8. News: Stratmann . Edward . Strasbourg's Nuno da Costa Has Been On A Fascinating Road To Top Flight Football . 10 March 2020 . The Sportsman . 28 October 2017.
  9. News: Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg) regrette le carton rouge "très sévère" de Da Costa contre Troyes. Thierry Laurey (Strasbourg) regrets Da Costa's "very strict" red card against Troyes . 10 March 2020 . L'Équipe . 4 November 2017 . fr.
  10. News: Loisy . Guillaume . Vainqueur de la Coupe de la Ligue, Strasbourg grimpe au 7e ciel. Coupe de la Ligue winners, Strasbourg climb to 7th heaven . 10 March 2020 . . 30 March 2019 . fr.
  11. News: 30e journée de Ligue 1: Festival offensif de Strasbourg contre Reims avec des doublés d'Anthony Goncalves et Nuno Da Costa (4-0). 30th matchday of Ligue 1: Attacking festival for Strasbourg against Reims with braces from Anthony Goncalves and Nuno Da Costa (4-0) . 10 March 2020 . . fr.
  12. News: Rathborn . Jack . Daniel Bravo: Former France international describes Nuno da Costa's goal as 'not bad for a black guy' following Moise Kean race storm . 10 March 2020 . . 4 April 2019.
  13. News: Nuno da Costa: Nottingham Forest sign Strasbourg striker for an undisclosed fee . 10 March 2020 . . 29 January 2020.
  14. News: Bonell . Jonny . Wakefield . Mark . Da Costa injury latest as Nottingham Forest boss sent message ahead of crucial clash . 10 March 2020 . . 14 February 2020.
  15. News: Nottingham Forest transfer news: Cafu joins from Olympiakos . 21 October 2021 . BBC Sport . 5 October 2020.
  16. News: Jupiler Pro League: Charleroi renverse le Cercle de Bruges dans un match fou, Mouscron tient OHL en échec. Jupiler Pro League: Charleroi come back against Cercle Bruges in a crazy match, Mouscron keep OHL in check. 21 October 2021 . . 15 December 2020 . French.
  17. News: Curtis . Leigh . Nottingham Forest confirm double departure on transfer deadline day . 21 October 2021 . Nottingham Post . 31 August 2021.
  18. Web site: Nuno da Costa nouveau n°9 de l'AJA ! . 5 August 2022 .
  19. Web site: Da Costa departs to Auxerre .
  20. Web site: 12 September 2023 . Nuno Da Costa Kasımpaşamızda . Nuno Da Costa is in our Kasımpaşa . Kasımpaşa . tr.
  21. Web site: 12 September 2023 . Nuno Da Costa rejoint Kasimpasa . Nuno Da Costa joins Kasimpasa . Auxerre . fr-FR.
  22. News: Nuno da Costa: "A estreia não poderia ter sido melhor". Nuno da Costa: "The debut could not have been better" . 10 March 2020 . D Tudo 1 Pouco . 7 June 2016 . pt.
  23. News: Futebol/CAN´2019: Cabo Verde empata com Lesoto na re-estreia oficial de Rui Águas e continua no último lugar do grupo. Football/ACN'2019: Cape Verde draw with Lesotho on Rui Águas' second debut and continue in last place in the group . 21 October 2021 . . 9 September 2018 . Portuguese.
  24. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Cape Verde201611
201820
Total31

Scores and results list Cape Verde's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each da Costa goal.

Honours

Strasbourg

2018–19[10]