Danilo Pereira Profile, Stats and Career

Danilo Pereira is a 34-year-old Portuguese defensive midfielder and centre-back who plays for Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League. The right-footed number 2 brings passing range, aerial dominance, and defensive structure developed across Porto, PSG, and the Portugal national team. This profile covers his age, current club, career story, international record, and honours.

Danilo's career spans top-level football in Portugal, Italy, France, and Saudi Arabia. He won two Primeira Liga titles with Porto and three Ligue 1 titles with PSG, while also winning UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2019 UEFA Nations League with Portugal. Those credentials make him one of the most decorated Portuguese players of his generation.

Early Life and Background

Danilo was born on 9 September 1991 in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, and moved to Portugal with his family at the age of five. He developed through youth clubs in the Lisbon area, finishing his academy education at Benfica. Despite Benfica declining to offer him a professional contract, the experience shaped his defensive foundation.

Italian side Parma signed him on a free transfer in 2010, and his early career took him through loan spells at Aris in Greece and Roda JC in the Eredivisie. Returning to Portugal with Marítimo in 2013 gave Danilo a stable Primeira Liga platform and put him on Porto's radar. His disciplined positioning and passing ability made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in Portugal.

Birthplace, family, and youth football journey

Danilo's roots in Guinea-Bissau give him dual nationality alongside his Portuguese citizenship. His family's move to Portugal placed him in the Lisbon youth football system, where the connection to Benfica's academy was a key development step. Benfica's decision not to retain him ultimately sent him abroad before his eventual return shaped his career path.

The loan years across Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands gave Danilo exposure to different tactical styles. Each environment tested his composure and range, producing a player capable of playing both the defensive midfield pivot and the centre-back role. Those years of versatility are why Porto signed him as their long-term midfield anchor.

Danilo Pereira Personal Info and Profile

Danilo's positional flexibility is one of his most valuable qualities. He can anchor the base of a midfield as a holding midfielder or drop into a back four as a centre-back, giving managers tactical options without sacrificing defensive stability. That dual-role capability extended his usefulness at the highest level of the game.

Transfer News and Market Value

Danilo joined Al-Ittihad from Paris Saint-Germain in September 2024. His contract was extended in February 2026 and now runs through June 2027, confirming his status as a key figure in the Saudi Pro League side. Transfer market estimates place his current value at approximately €2.1 million, reflecting his age and career stage.

His move to the Saudi Pro League followed a four-year spell at PSG after an initial loan from Porto in October 2020. The permanent deal was completed at the end of the 2020–21 season, and Danilo went on to win three Ligue 1 titles with the Parisian club. Al-Ittihad also won the Saudi Pro League title and the King's Cup in 2024–25.

Danilo Pereira Club Career

Danilo made his Primeira Liga debut with Marítimo in 2013 before Porto signed him for a reported €4.5 million in July 2015, the highest fee in Marítimo's history at the time. He made 202 official appearances for Porto across five seasons, winning two league titles and a Taça de Portugal. Porto named him their Footballer of the Year with the Dragão de Ouro award in October 2016.

PSG took him on loan in October 2020 and made the deal permanent the following summer. He made over 100 appearances for PSG and won three Ligue 1 titles, two Coupes de France, and three Trophées des Champions. His experience alongside elite forwards gave him exposure to top-level Champions League football.

Club Career Stats

International Career

Danilo made his senior Portugal debut in March 2015 and earned 74 caps across nine years of international football. He was part of the squad that won UEFA Euro 2016 in France, Portugal's first major international trophy. He also featured in the side that won the inaugural UEFA Nations League on home soil in 2019.

His international career included appearances at two FIFA World Cups (2018 and 2022) and multiple European Championship and Nations League campaigns. Danilo retired from international football in 2024 after Portugal's exit from UEFA Euro 2024.

Honours and Trophies

Playing Style and Key Strengths

Danilo is a physically imposing defensive midfielder who excels in aerial duels, short passing, and defensive positioning. WhoScored data rates his passing as very strong, with a high short-pass completion rate and consistent ability to break up opposition attacks. His 6 ft 2 in frame makes him a dominant presence in both penalty areas.

His key strengths are positional awareness, ball-winning from deep, and the ability to screen a back four. At Porto, he captained the side and won the Dragão de Ouro award, while at PSG his composure under pressure in the Champions League showed he could perform at elite level. In the Saudi Pro League, he has adapted his role to include centre-back duties alongside his midfield responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Danilo Pereira's career is defined by consistency, versatility, and a trophy cabinet that reflects sustained excellence at club and international level. From Porto's midfield anchor to PSG's defensive cornerstone and Euro 2016 winner with Portugal, he has delivered across every environment. His continued role at Al-Ittihad shows he remains a reliable senior presence in one of the world's most competitive leagues.