Oscar dos Santos

Brazilian attacking midfielder known for his technical skills, creativity, and playmaking ability during spells at Chelsea and in Chinese football

Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior was born on 9 September 1991 in Americana, Brazil, and progressed through the youth ranks of São Paulo before moving to Internacional, where his creative attacking play established him as one of the most promising young talents in Brazilian football. Chelsea signed him in 2012 for a reported €32.5 million, a significant investment in an unproven 20-year-old at the time. Oscar spent five seasons at Chelsea, becoming a key attacking midfielder under multiple managers and winning the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and the 2013 Europa League. Known mononymously as Oscar, he combined technical quality with tactical versatility, capable of playing centrally or out wide across the front line. In 2017, Oscar made a surprising and lucrative move to China's Shanghai Port (then Shanghai SIPG) for a reported fee exceeding £52 million, at the time one of the largest transfers ever involving a Chinese Super League club. He spent seven seasons in China, becoming one of the league's most influential foreign players before returning to Brazil with São Paulo in 2025, the club where his career had begun. Oscar earned caps for Brazil between 2011 and 2015, representing his country at the 2014 World Cup on home soil, where Brazil suffered a historic 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany, and later at the 2015 Copa América.

Creative attacking midfielder with excellent passing range and set-piece ability

Talented playmaker who moved to China during his prime years

• Premier League 2015
• League Cup 2015
• Europa League 2013

Club Career

Club	Period	Fee	Apps	Goals
São Paulo	2008–2010	—	12	0
Internacional	2010–2012	£25m	56	15
Chelsea	2012–2017	£25m	131	21
Shanghai Port	2017–2024	£60m	179	58
São Paulo	2025–2025	—	18	2
Brazil	—	—	48	12