Gianni dos Santos

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Gianni dos Santos

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|fullname = Gianni Miguel dos Santos{{Soccerway|gianni-dos-santos/529648}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|11|21|df=y}}

|birth_place = Rotterdam, Netherlands

|height = 1.76 m

|position = Forward

|currentclub = Lokomotiv Sofia

|clubnumber = 25

|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}

|youthclubs1 = Spartaan '20

|youthyears2 = {{0|0000}}–2017

|youthclubs2 = Dordrecht

|years1 = 2017–2018

|clubs1 = Dordrecht

|caps1 = 4

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2018–2020

|clubs2 = Jong Sparta

|caps2 = 43

|goals2 = 11

|years3 = 2018–2019

|clubs3 = Sparta Rotterdam

|caps3 = 2

|goals3 = 0

|years4 = 2020–2021

|clubs4 = Dordrecht

|caps4 = 17

|goals4 = 4

|years5 = 2021–2022

|clubs5 = Pacific FC

|caps5 = 40

|goals5 = 4

|years6 = 2023

|clubs6 = Atlético Ottawa

|caps6 = 19

|goals6 = 2

|years7 = 2024

|clubs7 = Inter Kashi

|caps7 = 10

|goals7 = 2

|years8 = 2024–

|clubs8 = Lokomotiv Sofia

|caps8 = 4

|goals8 = 0

|club-update = 6 January 2025

|nationalyears1 = 2022–

|nationalteam1 = Cape Verde

|nationalcaps1 = 1

|nationalgoals1 = 0

|nationalteam-update = 21 July 2022

}}

Gianni Miguel dos Santos (born 21 November 1998) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bulgarian First League club Lokomotiv Sofia. Born in the Netherlands, he plays for the Cape Verde national team.

Club career

Dos Santos made his professional debut on 22 December 2017 for FC Dordrecht in the Eerste Divisie, in the 2–3 home loss to Jong PSV. He came on as a substitute for Denis Mahmudov in the 69th minute. In the summer of 2018, he left for Jong Sparta, where he played in the third-tier Tweede Divisie. He made his debut in the first team of Sparta on 18 November 2018, in the 1–1 away draw against NEC. He came on for Ilias Alhaft in the 67th minute.

In October 2020, Dos Santos returned to Dordrecht.{{cite news |last1=Bomgaars |first1=Arco |title=Armoedig FC Dordrecht verliest kelderduel in Oss |url=https://www.ad.nl/regiosport-dordrecht/armoedig-fc-dordrecht-verliest-kelderduel-in-oss~a05d8423/ |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Algemeen Dagblad |date=5 October 2020 |language=nl|trans-title=Shabby FC Dordrecht loses basement match in Oss}} He immediately impressed in his first match back, scoring and giving an assist in the 2–2 draw against Almere City, as he was rewarded with the 'man of the match' award afterwards. Head coach of Dordrecht, Harry van den Ham, called Dos Santos a "diamond in the rough" after his performance against Almere City and lauded his pace and threat in front of goal.{{cite news |title=Imponerende rentree van 'ruwe diamant' Dos Santos bij FC Dordrecht |url=https://www.rijnmond.nl/nieuws/200245/Imponerende-rentree-van-ruwe-diamant-Dos-Santos-bij-FC-Dordrecht |access-date=29 November 2020 |work=Rijnmond |date=19 October 2020 |language=nl|trans-title=Impressive return of 'rough diamond' Dos Santos at FC Dordrecht}}

On 20 May 2021, Dos Santos signed with Canadian Premier League club Pacific FC. Dos Santos is the third international player to sign with Pacific FC for the 2021 season.{{Cite web|date=20 May 2021|title=Pacific FC Sign Forward Gianni dos Santos|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/pacific-fc-sign-forward-gianni-dos-santos|access-date=20 May 2021|website=Pacific FC}}

In February 2023, he signed with fellow CPL side Atlético Ottawa on a two-year contract.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/atletico-ottawa-sign-cape-verde-international-forward-gianni-dos-santos|title=Atlético Ottawa sign Cape Verde international forward Gianni dos Santos|first=Charlie|last=O'Connor-Clarke|work=Canadian Premier League|date=21 February 2023|access-date=21 February 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://ottawa.citynews.ca/2023/02/21/atletico-ottawa-signs-gianni-dos-santos-to-two-year-deal-6588622/|title=Atlético Ottawa signs Gianni dos Santos to two-year deal|first=Anil|last=Jhalli|work=CityNews|date=21 February 2023}}

On 1 January 2024, Dos Santos joined I-League club Inter Kashi for an undisclosed fee.{{Cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/atletico-ottawa-forward-gianni-dos-santos-departs-for-i-league-club-inter-kashi|title=Atlético Ottawa forward Gianni dos Santos departs for I-League club Inter Kashi|date=1 January 2024|work=Canadian Premier League}}{{cite web |author=Waseem |url=https://khelnow.com/football/2024-01-indian-football-i-league-inter-kashi-sign-dutch-forward-gianni-dos-santos |title=Inter Kashi sign versatile forward Gianni dos Santos |date=1 January 2024 |website=Khel Now}} On 4 February 2024, he scored first goal in his season debut against Shillong Lajong.{{cite web|url=https://wyrta.com/i-league-rem-ka-lajong-haka-inter-kashi/|title=I-League: Rem ka Lajong haka Inter Kashi|date=4 February 2024|work=Wyrta|language=hi|trans-title=I-League: Rem beat Lajong or Inter Kashi}}

International career

In March 2020, dos Santos was called up to Cape Verde.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/zeven-spartanen-opgenomen-voorselecties-2/|language=nl|title=Zeven Spartanen opgenomen in voorselecties|website=Sparta Rotterdam|date=11 March 2020|trans-title=Seven Spartans included in preselections}} He was called up again in June 2022 for a friendly against Ecuador in Miami.{{cite web|url=https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/dos-santos-called-up-to-cape-verde-national-team-for-friendly-against-ecuador|title=Dos Santos called up to Cape Verde national team for friendly against Ecuador|date=8 June 2022|work=Pacific FC|access-date=21 July 2022|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705000125/https://pacificfc.canpl.ca/article/dos-santos-called-up-to-cape-verde-national-team-for-friendly-against-ecuador|url-status=live}} He made his debut for his country in the match on 11 June, as a second-half substitute in an eventual 1–0 defeat.{{cn|date=January 2024}}