Willian
From TheChels.info - The Chelsea Football Club Wiki
| Willian | |
| |
| Full Name | Willian Borges da Silva |
| Date of Birth | 9 August 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Ribeirão Pires, Brazil |
| Position | Attacking midfielder Winger |
| Chelsea career | 2013 - 2020 |
| Debut | 18 September 2013 |
| Games (goals) | TBC |
| Other clubs | Corinthians Shakhtar Donetsk Anzhi Makhachkala |
Willian Borges da Silva (born 9 August 1988), known as Willian, is a Brazilian international who spent seven years at Chelsea. An attacking midfielder or winger, he signed from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013, having previously played for Shakhtar Donetsk and Corinthians.
Contents |
Before Chelsea
Corinthians
Willian started his career at Corinthians having come through the São Paulo club's youth system. He made his debut in May 2007 at the age of 18 [1] and went on to make 16 league appearances, scoring twice.
Shakhtar Donetsk
Just three-and-a-half months after making his debut for Corinthians, and still a teenager, Willian made the move to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for a fee of around £12m. [2] He made his debut on 15 September 2007 and went on to make 28 appearances in his debut season, scoring once. He subsequently established himself in what was a highly successful side, his team winning four league championships and three Ukrainian Cups between 2008 and 2012, with Willian one of the stand-out performers. Donetsk were also successful in European competition, winning the UEFA Cup in 2009. In 2012 Willian faced Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League group stage, impressing in both ties and scoring twice at Stamford Bridge against the reigning European champions. Despite losing that match 3-2 the Ukrainian champions eventually reached the knock-out stages at Chelsea's expense.
Anzhi Makhachkala
Now established as a significant player on the European stage, Willian was sold to ambitious Russian Premier League side Anzhi Makhachkala on 31 January 2013 for a reported fee of €35m (£30m). [3] The Brazilian was one of many expensive signings in the two years since Dagestani billionaire Suleyman Kerimov had taken control of the club, but in early August 2013, following a lack of success on the field, all of the club's players were reported to be for sale after Kerimov drastically reduced the club's considerable budget. [4] As one of Anzhi's most valuable assets, recent signing Willian became the subject of considerable transfer speculation over the following days, with a move to the English Premier League reported to be the player's likely destination. Initially Liverpool were reported to be favourites to sign the Brazilian, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur also cited as possible suitors in the UK media. [5] Just a few days later Willian seemed set to sign for Tottenham; the Brazilian having flown to London for a medical ahead of a reported £30m move. [6] However on 22 August reports emerged that Chelsea had intervened by submitting a similar bid to Anzhi, [7] and his signing was confirmed a few days later. [8]
Chelsea career
Willian was confirmed as a Chelsea player on 28 August, for a fee in the region of £32m, after Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich had reportedly contacted fellow Russian billionaire Kerimov personally. Clearly happy with the late change of destination, the Brazilian international commented "I'm very happy to be here, it's been a dream of mine to come and play here. Chelsea are one of the best clubs in the world, and now I'm going to play for one of the best managers in the world, so I'm very happy and looking forward to it." [9]
Willian made his Chelsea debut as a substitute in a shock home loss against FC Basel, and made his full debut for the club in a League Cup win against Swindon Town the following week. He scored his first goal for Chelsea on his Premier League debut, a sublime long-range effort against Norwich City that clinched a 3-1 win for the Blues in early October. Having been eased into the Chelsea side by José Mourinho, by December Willian had established himself as a regular starter along side Oscar and Eden Hazard in the triumverate of attacking midfielders behind the striker. By the turn of the year he was consistently demonstrating his skill in attacking areas and his notable workrate was no doubt a factor in Mourinho's evident faith in the Brazilian. He scored his second goal for the club against Southampton on New Year's Day. Reflecting on his move to Chelsea in January 2014 he told the FIFA website “I kept an eye on Chelsea’s fortunes after they first tried to sign me. I developed a bit of a soft spot for the club. The problem was that Shakhtar didn’t want to let me go. And then Anzhi came in and met my release clause fee... But that made my desire to play for Chelsea all the stronger. It took a while, but now I’m here, and I couldn’t be happier.” [10]
Statistics
- See also: List of Willian goals
| Season | Prem | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2013-14 | 25 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 42 | 4 |
| 2014-15 | 36 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 4 |
| 2015-16 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 11 |
| 2016-17 | 34 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 12 |
| 2017-18 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Total | 139 | 19 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 29 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 195 | 32 |
- Correct as of 26 October 2017"
Honours
Club
- Shakhtar Donetsk
- Ukrainian Premier League: 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
- Ukrainian Cup: 2008, 2011, 2012
- Ukrainian Super Cup: 2008, 2010, 2012
- UEFA Cup: 2009
- Chelsea
International
- Brazil Under-20
- South American Youth Championship: 2007
| Current Squad |
|---|
| 1 Kepa • 4 Badiashile • 5 Enzo • 6 Thiago Silva • 9 Aubameyang • 13 Bettinelli • 14 Chalobah • 15 Mudryk • 17 Sterling • 18 Broja • 21 Chilwell • 22 Ziyech • 23 Gallagher • 24 James • 27 Datro Fofana • 30 Chukwuemeka • 31 Madueke • 32 Cucurella • 33 Fofana • 67 Hall Manager: Mauricio Pochettino |
