Leandro Silva (footballer, born 1994)

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Leandro Silva

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Leandro Miguel Pereira da Silva{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/jogador/leandro-silva/19598|title=Leandro Silva|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|access-date=27 November 2021}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|5|4|df=y}}

| birth_place = Castelo de Paiva, Portugal

| height = 1.73 m

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub = Académica

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = 2002–2006 | youthclubs1 = Paivense

| youthyears2 = 2006–2013 | youthclubs2 = Porto

| youthyears3 = 2009–2010 | youthclubs3 = → Padroense (loan)

| years1 = 2013–2017 | clubs1 = Porto B | caps1 = 71 | goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2015–2016 | clubs2 = → Académica (loan) | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2016 | clubs3 = → Paços Ferreira (loan) | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2017 | clubs4 = → Académica (loan) | caps4 = 19 | goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2017–2021 | clubs5 = AEL Limassol | caps5 = 50 | goals5 = 6

| years6 = 2019–2020 | clubs6 = → Académica (loan) | caps6 = 22 | goals6 = 2

| years7 = 2020–2021 | clubs7 = → Arouca (loan) | caps7 = 31 | goals7 = 1

| years8 = 2021–2022 | clubs8 = Arouca | caps8 = 31 | goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2022 | clubs9 = Hapoel Haifa | caps9 = 3 | goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2023–2024 | clubs10 = União Leiria | caps10 = 39 | goals10 = 2

| years11 = 2024 | clubs11 = Al-Jandal | caps11 = 3 | goals11 = 1

| years12 = 2024– | clubs12 = Académica | caps12 = 5 | goals12 = 1

| totalcaps = | totalgoals =

| nationalyears1 = 2009–2010 | nationalteam1 = Portugal U16 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2010–2011 | nationalteam2 = Portugal U17 | nationalcaps2 = 15 | nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam3 = Portugal U18 | nationalcaps3 = 10 | nationalgoals3 = 1

| nationalyears4 = 2012–2013 | nationalteam4 = Portugal U19 | nationalcaps4 = 16 | nationalgoals4 = 2

| nationalyears5 = 2014 | nationalteam5 = Portugal U20 | nationalcaps5 = 3 | nationalgoals5 = 1

| nationalyears6 = 2016 | nationalteam6 = Portugal U21 | nationalcaps6 = 1 | nationalgoals6 = 0

| nationalyears7 = 2016 | nationalteam7 = Portugal U23 | nationalcaps7 = 1 | nationalgoals7 = 0

| club-update = 13:59, 22 November 2024 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

| medaltemplates =

}}

Leandro Miguel Pereira da Silva (born 4 May 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Académica de Coimbra.

Club career

Born in Castelo de Paiva, Aveiro District, Silva joined FC Porto's youth system at the age of 12. On 21 August 2013 he made his professional debut with the reserves, coming on as a 67th-minute substitute for Thibaut Vion in a 1–0 away win against Portimonense S.C. in the Segunda Liga.{{cite news|url=http://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/2--liga/detalhe/portimonense-fc-porto-b-0-1-o-miudo-deu-3-pontos-839819.html|title=Portimonense-FC Porto B, 0–1: O "miúdo" deu 3 pontos|trans-title=Portimonense-FC Porto B, 0–1: The "kid" gave 3 points|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=21 August 2013|access-date=9 January 2017}} On 22 April 2015, in the semi-finals of the Premier League International Cup, he scored all of his team's goals to help overcome Fulham 3–0.{{cite web|url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/under-21s/2014_2015/international-cup/semi-final/porto|title=Fulham U21s 0–3 FC Porto U21s|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=22 April 2015|access-date=9 January 2017}}

Silva spent the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons on loan in the Primeira Liga, respectively at Académica de Coimbra{{cite web|url=http://www.academica-oaf.pt/noticias/futebol-profissional/5541-leandro-silva-e-o-novo-reforco-da-academica/|title=Leandro Silva é o novo reforço da Académica|trans-title=Leandro Silva is the new Académica addition|publisher=Académica Coimbra|language=pt|date=6 August 2015|access-date=7 August 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308004401/http://www.academica-oaf.pt/noticias/futebol-profissional/5541-leandro-silva-e-o-novo-reforco-da-academica/|archive-date=8 March 2016}} and F.C. Paços de Ferreira. Due to lack of playing opportunities at the latter he was recalled by his parent club on 26 December 2016,{{cite news|url=http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=647622|title=Leandro Silva regressa ao FC Porto|trans-title=Leandro Silva returns to FC Porto|newspaper=A Bola|language=pt|date=26 December 2016|access-date=9 January 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110085943/http://www.abola.pt/nnh/ver.aspx?id=647622|archive-date=10 January 2017}} being re-loaned to Académica shortly after.{{cite news|url=http://www.diariocoimbra.pt/noticia/14800|title=Leandro Silva vai reforçar Académica|trans-title=Leandro Silva will bolster Académica|newspaper=Diário de Coimbra|language=pt|date=19 January 2017|access-date=27 August 2019}}

In the summer of 2017, Silva signed with AEL Limassol in the Cypriot First Division. He served two Portuguese second tier loans until the end of his contract, at Académica{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/transferencias/ael-limassol/leandro-silva-regressa-a-academica-por-emprestimo|title=Leandro Silva regressa à Académica por empréstimo|trans-title=Leandro Silva returns to Académica on loan|publisher=Mais Futebol|first=Sara|last=Marques|language=pt|date=4 July 2019|access-date=30 June 2022}} and F.C. Arouca;{{cite web|url=https://rr.sapo.pt/bola-branca/noticia/futebol-nacional/2020/08/05/leandro-silva-emprestado-ao-arouca/202676/|title=Leandro Silva emprestado ao Arouca|trans-title=Leandro Silva loaned to Arouca|publisher=Rádio Renascença|first=Eduardo|last=Soares da Silva|language=pt|date=5 August 2020|access-date=30 June 2022}} he contributed 31 matches and one goal in his first season at the latter side, helping to a return to the top flight after four years.{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/liga/rio-ave/arouca-armando-evangelista-dedicou-subida-aos-pais-e-emocionou-se|title=Arouca: Armando Evangelista dedicou subida aos pais e emocionou-se|trans-title=Arouca: Armando Evangelista dedicated promotion to his parents and was moved|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=30 May 2021|access-date=30 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/arouca/noticias/oficial-sylla-regressa-a-arouca-e-leandro-silva-esta-de-saida-14963905.html|title=Oficial: Sylla regressa a Arouca e Leandro Silva está de saída|trans-title=Official: Sylla returns to Arouca and Leandro Silva is leaving|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=23 June 2022|access-date=30 June 2022}}

Already on a permanent two-year deal at Arouca,{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-bwin/arouca/detalhe/leandro-silva-assina-em-definitivo-pelo-arouca|title=Leandro Silva assina em definitivo pelo Arouca|trans-title=Leandro Silva signs permanently for Arouca|newspaper=Record|language=pt|date=2 July 2021|access-date=30 June 2022}} Silva registered the exact same figures in the 2021–22 campaign as they managed to stay afloat.{{cite web|url=http://www.rodaviva.pt/?action=noticias&seccaoid=2&id=7709|title=FC Arouca fica na Primeira Liga|trans-title=FC Arouca stay in First League|publisher=Roda Viva|language=pt|date=9 May 2022|access-date=30 June 2022}}{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/1a-liga/arouca/noticias/leandro-silva-deixa-arouca-e-ruma-a-israel-14963271.html|title=Leandro Silva deixa Arouca e ruma a Israel|trans-title=Leandro Silva leaves Arouca and heads to Israel|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=23 June 2022|access-date=30 June 2022}} In January 2023, following a very brief spell in the Israeli Premier League with Hapoel Haifa FC, he returned to Portugal with U.D. Leiria,{{cite web|url=https://rr.sapo.pt/bola-branca/noticia/futebol-nacional/2023/01/13/leandro-silva-regressa-a-portugal-para-reforcar-o-leiria/315791/|title=Leandro Silva regressa a Portugal para reforçar o Leiria|trans-title=Leandro Silva returns to Portugal to strengthen Leiria|publisher=Rádio Renascença|language=pt|date=13 January 2023|access-date=26 July 2024}} achieving promotion to division two with them in May.{{cite news|url=https://www.record.pt/futebol/futebol-nacional/liga-3/detalhe/diogo-amado-u-leiria-merece-topo-do-futebol-nacional|title=Diogo Amado: "U. Leiria merece topo do futebol nacional"|trans-title=Diogo Amado: "U. Leiria deserve top national football"|newspaper=Record|first=Joaquim|last=Paulo|language=pt|date=5 May 2023|access-date=26 July 2024}}

Silva went abroad again on 23 July 2024, joining Saudi First Division League club Al-Jandal SC.{{cite web|url=https://x.com/Aljandal_Fc/status/1815860132821291113|title=لياندرو سيلفا ينضم لصفوف مارد الجوف لنهاية الموسم|trans-title=Leandro Silva joins Al-Jandal until the end of the season|publisher=Twitter|language=ar|date=23 July 2024|access-date=25 July 2024}} In September, however, he rejoined Académica for a fourth stint, with the side now in the third tier.{{cite news|url=https://www.ojogo.pt/3136094006/academica-reforca-se-com-vitor-bruno-e-leandro-silva/|title=Académica reforça-se com Vítor Bruno e Leandro Silva|trans-title=Académica strengthen with Vítor Bruno and Leandro Silva|newspaper=O Jogo|language=pt|date=11 September 2024|access-date=19 September 2024}}

International career

All youth levels comprised, Silva earned 55 caps for Portugal. He made his debut for the under-21 side on 24 March 2016, in a 4–0 home victory over Liechtenstein in the 2017 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifiers.{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/seleccao/euro_sub_21/artigo/2016/03/24/portugal-liechtenstein-sub-21-cronica|title=Golear cedo e cedo descansar no regresso aos Açores|trans-title=Early rout and early resting in return to the Azores|publisher=SAPO|first=Gaspar|last=Castro|language=pt|date=24 March 2016|access-date=9 January 2017}}