João Amaral (footballer, born 1991)

For other people named João Amaral, see João Amaral (disambiguation).

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Reis and the second or paternal family name is Amaral.

João Amaral

Amaral in 2023
Personal information
Full name	João Pedro Reis Amaral[1]
Date of birth	(1991-09-07) 7 September 1991 (age 33)[1]
Place of birth	Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal[1]
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s)	Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team	Al Batin
Number	24
Youth career
2003–2009	Vilanovense
2009	Vila
2009–2010	Candal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2012	Candal	63	(14)
2012–2013	Padroense	30	(3)
2013–2014	Mirandela	32	(6)
2014–2016	Pedras Rubras	40	(7)
2014–2015	→ Oliveirense (loan)	21	(6)
2016–2018	Vitória Setúbal	66	(14)
2018	Benfica	0	(0)
2018–2023	Lech Poznań	93	(27)
2019–2023	Lech Poznań II	4	(2)
2020–2021	→ Paços Ferreira (loan)	48	(2)
2023–2024	Kocaelispor	33	(4)
2024–	Al Batin	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10:57, 7 September 2024 (UTC)

João Pedro Reis Amaral (born 7 September 1991) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Saudi club Al Batin as an attacking midfielder or a winger.

Club career

Vitória Setúbal

Born in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, Amaral played lower league and amateur football until the age of 24, working in a wine bottle label factory during this timeframe.[2] On 6 June 2016, he moved straight into the Primeira Liga after signing a three-year contract with Vitória F.C. from F.C. Pedras Rubras.[3][4]

Amaral made his debut in the Portuguese top division on 21 August 2016, starting and featuring 64 minutes in a 1–1 away draw against S.L. Benfica.[5] He scored his first goal in the competition the following weekend to help the hosts defeat F.C. Arouca 2–0,[6] adding a further four until the end of the season – while providing two assists – to help his team finish 12th.[7]

Benfica and Lech Poznań

On 29 May 2018, Amaral joined Benfica on a three-year contract.[8][9] Shortly after, on 21 July, he signed a four-year deal with Polish club Lech Poznań.[10] He made his debut for the latter five days later, netting in the last minute of the 1–1 away draw against FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[11]

Amaral returned to his country and its top tier on 2 January 2020, being loaned to F.C. Paços de Ferreira until 30 June.[12] On 26 August, he agreed to a similar move to the same team.[13]

Back at Lech, Amaral scored a career-best 14 goals in the 2021–22 campaign (17 in all competitions, with eight assists), as they won the Ekstraklasa for the eighth time in history.[14]

Later career

Amaral returned abroad subsequently, where he represented Kocaelispor in the TFF 1. Lig[15] and Al Batin FC of the Saudi First Division League.[16][17]

Career statistics

As of match played 31 August 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League	League		Cup		Europe		Other		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Mirandela	2013–14[18]	Campeonato de Portugal	32	6	0	0	—		—		32	6
Pedras Rubras	2014–15[18]	Campeonato de Portugal	8	1	0	0	—		—		8	1
	2015–16[18]	Campeonato de Portugal	32	6	0	0	—		—		32	6
	Total		40	7	0	0	—		—		40	7
Oliveirense	2014–15[18]	Campeonato de Portugal	21	6	0	0	—		—		21	6
Vitória Setúbal	2016–17[18]	Primeira Liga	33	5	1	0	—		2[a]	0	36	5
	2017–18[18]	Primeira Liga	33	9	1	0	—		6[a]	0	40	9
	Total		66	14	2	0	—		8	0	76	14
Lech Poznań	2018–19[19]	Ekstraklasa	25	8	2	1	3[b]	1	—		30	10
	2019–20[20]	Ekstraklasa	15	3	2	0	—		—		17	3
	2021–22[21]	Ekstraklasa	32	14	4	3	—		—		36	17
	2022–23[22]	Ekstraklasa	21	2	0	0	13[c]	2	0	0	34	4
	Total		93	27	8	4	16	3	0	0	117	34
Lech Poznań II	2019–20	II liga	1	0	—		—		—		1	0
	2022–23	II liga	3	2	—		—		—		3	2
	Total		4	2	—		—		—		4	2
Paços Ferreira (loan)	2019–20[18]	Primeira Liga	19	1	1	0	—		—		20	1
	2020–21[18]	Primeira Liga	29	1	2	0	—		1[a]	0	32	1
	Total		48	2	3	0	—		1	0	52	2
Kocaelispor	2023–24[18]	TFF First League	33	4	1	0	—		—		34	4
Al Batin	2024–25[18]	Saudi First Division League	3	0	0	0	—		—		3	0
Career total			340	68	14	4	16	3	9	0	379	75

1. Appearances in Taça da Liga
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
3. Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, eleven appearances and two goals in UEFA Conference League

Honours

Lech Poznań

• Ekstraklasa: 2021–22[23]

References

1. "João Amaral" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
2. Marques, David (8 February 2017). "O "baldas" na escola que era outro João no futebol" [The "slacker" in school who was another João in football] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
3. "Extremo João Amaral garantido até 2019" [Winger João Amaral confirmed until 2019] (in Portuguese). Vitória F.C. 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
4. "Do Campeonato de Portugal para a I Liga, uma aposta cada vez mais óbvia" [From the Portugal Championship to the I League, a safer bet by the day]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 9 January 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
5. "Benfica empata na Luz" [Benfica draw at the Luz] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 21 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
6. "Vitória de Setúbal vence Arouca" [Vitória de Setúbal beat Arouca]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 August 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
7. Azevedo, Pedro Miguel (27 May 2017). "João Amaral negociado e muito perto de ser jogador do Benfica" [João Amaral negotiated and very close to becoming a Benfica player]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 January 2018.
8. "João Amaral contratado pelo Benfica ao Setúbal" [João Amaral signed by Benfica from Setúbal]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
9. "João Amaral signed". S.L. Benfica. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
10. Szymczak, Lilianna (21 July 2018). "João Amaral zawodnikiem Kolejorza" [João Amaral joins railwaymen] (in Polish). Lech Poznań. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
11. Pereira, David (26 July 2018). "João Amaral não chegou a jogar pelo Benfica, mas teve estreia de sonho pelo Lech Poznan" [João Amaral never played for Benfica, but had dream debut for Lech Poznan]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 July 2018.
12. "João Amaral reforça Paços de Ferreira" [João Amaral bolsters Paços de Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
13. "OFICIAL: João Amaral continua no Paços de Ferreira" [OFFICIAL: João Amaral remains at Paços de Ferreira] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 26 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
14. Guerra, Francisco (25 May 2022). "João Amaral: «Foi a melhor época da minha carreira»" [João Amaral: "It was the best season of my career"]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 November 2024.
15. "Turquia João Amaral assina por clube da 2.ª Divisão" [Turkey João Amaral signs for 2nd Division club]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 12 August 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
16. "الإدارة تُنهي إجراءات التعاقد مع المحترف البرتغالي جواو امارال" [Board of directors concludes signing procedures with Portuguese professional João Amaral] (in Arabic). Twitter. 19 August 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
17. "OFICIAL: João Amaral prossegue carreira na Arábia Saudita" [OFFICIAL: João Amaral continues career in Saudi Arabia] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 20 August 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
18. "João Amaral". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
19. "Sezon 2018/19" [2018/19 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
20. "Sezon 2019/20" [2019/20 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
21. "Sezon 2021/22" [2021/22 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
22. "Sezon 2022/23" [2022/23 season] (in Polish). 90 Minut. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
23. "Polónia: João Amaral marca e Lech Poznan sagra-se campeão pela 8.ª vez na história" [Poland: João Amaral scores and Lech Poznan are crowned champions for the 8th time in history]. Record (in Portuguese). 15 May 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2024.

External links

• João Amaral at ForaDeJogo (archived)
• Portuguese League profile (in Portuguese)