Remember Isaias? He was the first Brazilian to play in the Premier League, joining Coventry from Benfica in 1995. Since then, more than 100 of his compatriots have graced the English top flight, including some of the nation’s most talented players in modern times.
Lucas Leiva
An excellent defensive midfielder, Lucas Leiva made 247 Premier League appearances for Liverpool over nearly a decade, scoring just once – a header against Newcastle in 2009. Capped 24 times by Brazil, Leiva’s 978 tackles are the second-highest in Premier League history, the highest by a non-English player.
Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva joined Chelsea in 2020 at the age of 36, but the former PSG and Milan man proved he still had plenty left in the tank. The experienced center-back captained the Blues on his debut and went on to play 113 Premier League games, being named the club’s 2022/23 Player of the Year.
Gabriel has steadily established himself as one of the world’s top center-backs since joining Arsenal from Lille in 2020. The Brazilian international was ever-present as the Gunners challenged Manchester City for the 2022/23 title, making the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
A two-time Premier League champion with Chelsea, Oscar scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in the competition for the Blues. The former Internacional attacking midfielder enjoyed a memorable 2014/15 campaign, helping the West Londoners to the title and winning the club’s Goal of the Year award.
The pint-sized entertainer revered by Middlesbrough fans, Juninho had three spells on Teesside, finding the net 29 times in the Premier League. Boro’s Player of the Season in 1996/97, the attacking midfielder returned to the Riverside Stadium on loan in 1999 and permanently in 2002 – having just won the World Cup.
Another key member of Chelsea’s 2014/15 title-winning side, Ramires joined the Blues from Benfica in 2010 and was voted Players’ Player of the Year in 2011/12. A versatile box-to-box midfielder, the 52-cap Brazil international made 159 Premier League appearances for the club.
A well-rounded central defender capable of playing in midfield or at full-back, David Luiz played an integral role as Chelsea won the 2016/17 Premier League title under Antonio Conte. The Brazilian also made 53 appearances in the competition for Arsenal.
While often having to make his mark from the bench, Gabriel Jesus was an important part of four Premier League title triumphs at Manchester City, scoring 58 goals in the competition. The former Palmeiras forward moved to Arsenal for £45m ahead of the 2022/23 season and quickly became a key player for the Gunners.
An explosive wide player with fantastic free-kick-taking ability, Willian spent his best Premier League years with Chelsea, registering 37 goals and 33 assists in seven seasons – and winning the title in 2014/15 and 2016/17. The two-time Blues Players’ Player of the Year later featured for Arsenal and Fulham.
One of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Ederson was vital to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, starring as they won six of the next seven Premier League titles. The elite ball-playing shot-stopper made the PFA Team of the Year in 2018/19 and 2020/21.
A world-class holding midfielder, Fabinho was instrumental to Liverpool’s resurgence under Jurgen Klopp, playing a key role in the Reds’ maiden Premier League title triumph of 2019/20. Klopp aptly nicknamed the Brazilian “Dyson” after the vacuum cleaner brand.
Gilberto Silva was immense as Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal “Invincibles” won the 2003/04 Premier League title without losing a single game. The 89-cap Brazilian international, fondly dubbed “the invisible wall”, made 170 Prem appearances for the Gunners.
The most expensive goalkeeper of all time when he joined Liverpool from Roma for £66.8m in 2018, Alisson wasted no time in justifying his price tag, becoming arguably the world’s best ‘keeper. The Brazilian shot-stopper was integral to the Reds’ 2019/20 title success and even scored a dramatic late winner at West Brom the following season.
Roberto Firmino finished his Liverpool career as the top-scoring Brazilian in Premier League history, netting 82 times for Jurgen Klopp’s side between 2015 and 2023. The instinctive finisher and elite presser was ever-present throughout the 2019/20 title-winning campaign, forming an irresistible front three with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane.
Evidently, Liverpool have done well out of Brazilians, and Philippe Coutinho was the best of the lot. Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Season at Anfield in 2014/15 and 2015/16, the versatile attacking midfielder scored 41 Premier League goals and provided 35 assists during his five years with the Reds, before later featuring 41 times in the competition for Aston Villa.
Just about the best defensive midfielder in the world in his prime at Manchester City, Fernandinho joined the club from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and enjoyed instant success, winning five Premier League titles. Fantastically versatile, the Brazilian led City to two titles as captain before leaving in 2022 with 264 Prem games under his belt.
