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WillianBrazilian footballer, midfielder
Date of Birth: 09.08.1998
Country:  Brazil |
Content:
Willian Borges da Silva
Early Career and Rise to ProminenceWillian Borges da Silva is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Chelsea and the Brazil national team. He began his professional career with Corinthians in his hometown of São Paulo, where he made 16 appearances in the Brazilian Championship, scoring two goals.
In the summer of 2007, Willian joined Shakhtar Donetsk under the guidance of coach Mircea Lucescu. The Ukrainian club paid a transfer fee of €14 million for his services. At Shakhtar, Willian quickly established himself as a top performer, becoming one of the standout Brazilian players in the team.
During his time with the "Miners," Willian won four Ukrainian Premier League titles (2007/08, 2009/10, 2010/11, 2011/12), three Ukrainian Cup titles (2007/08, 2010/11, 2011/12), and the Ukrainian Super Cup in 2010. He also lifted the UEFA Cup in the 2008/09 season. In total, he played 140 Ukrainian Premier League matches, scoring 20 goals, 24 Ukrainian Cup matches, scoring 6 goals, and 1 Ukrainian Youth League match.
Russian Adventure
On February 1, 2013, Willian moved to Anzhi Makhachkala for a reported €35 million, making it the third most expensive transfer in Russian football history at the time. The move was overshadowed by a serious injury and a change in Anzhi's transfer strategy, which forced the club to part ways with its high-priced Brazilian player.
Chelsea Glory
On August 25, 2013, Chelsea announced an agreement with Anzhi for the transfer of Willian. The transfer was completed on August 28, with the Brazilian signing a five-year contract. Willian established himself as a key player for Chelsea, becoming one of the team's most valuable contributors. In 2016, he was voted Chelsea's Player of the Year.
International Career
Willian played for the Brazil U-20 team, winning the South American Youth Championship in 2007 and representing his country at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada the same year. He made his debut for the full Brazil national team in October 2011 in friendly matches against Gabon and Egypt.
Personal Life
Willian married Vanessa Martins in 2011. Former Shakhtar teammate Jadson and his wife Renata served as witnesses at their wedding. In February 2012, the couple welcomed twin daughters, Valentina and Manuela.
