Brazilian · Ribeirão Pires, Brazil · Born 9 August 1988Brazilian footballer who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea and earned 70 international caps, known for his pace and technical ability on the wing.
Willian Borges da Silva was born on 9 August 1988 in Ribeirão Pires, near São Paulo, Brazil, and began playing futsal at six years old before joining Corinthians' youth academy at nine. He broke into the first team in 2007 and helped Corinthians win the São Paulo Youth Cup before a move to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007 launched the international phase of his career. Willian spent six seasons at Shakhtar, becoming one of the finest wingers in Ukrainian football and winning four Ukrainian Premier League titles along with the 2009 UEFA Cup. His combination of pace, dribbling, and end product made him one of Eastern Europe's most sought-after attacking players, leading to a brief spell at Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala before Chelsea signed him in 2013. Over seven seasons at Chelsea, Willian became one of the club's most reliable and versatile attacking players, capable of operating on either wing or as a central attacking midfielder. He won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the 2019 Europa League, forming part of one of the most successful periods in the club's modern history. Willian moved to Arsenal in 2020, adding a further chapter to his London football story, before joining Fulham in 2022 and later returning to Brazil with Corinthians and Grêmio. He earned caps for Brazil from 2011, representing his country at the 2014 World Cup on home soil.
Key player in Chelsea's Premier League titles and Europa League triumph
He was Chelsea's Player of the Year in 2015-16 despite the team finishing 10th, showing his individual quality even in a struggling side.
Did You Know?How They Played
Pacey winger with excellent dribbling, crossing ability and dead-ball expertise
Lasting Impact
Versatile winger who excelled in Premier League with pace and technical ability
Career Honours
- Premier League 2x
- FA Cup 2018
- Europa League 2019
- League Cup 2015
- Premier League 2015
- Premier League 2017
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corinthians | 2006–2007 | £30m | 37 | 2 | #10 |
| Shakhtar Donetsk | 2007–2013 | £30m | 140 | 20 | — |
| Anzhi Makhachkala | 2013–2013 | £30m | 11 | 1 | #10 |
| Chelsea | 2013–2020 | £30m | 234 | 37 | #10 |
| Arsenal | 2020–2021 | Free transfer | 25 | 1 | — |
| Corinthians | 2021–2022 | £30m | 35 | 1 | #10 |
| Fulham | 2022–2024 | Free transfer | 58 | 9 | — |
| Olympiacos | 2024–2024 | — | 6 | 0 | — |
| Fulham | 2025–2025 | Free transfer | 10 | 0 | — |
| Grêmio | 2025–Present | — | 25 | 1 | — |
 Brazil | — | — | 70 | 9 | — |
Brazilian Athletes