Biography
David Luiz Moreira Marinho (born 22 April 1987) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Chelsea and the Brazil national team. Primarily a centre back, he can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder.
After starting out at Vitória, he moved to Benfica, remaining with the club for five seasons (three complete). He joined Chelsea in January 2011, winning the UEFA Champions League during the 2011-12 season. In the following season he won the UEFA Europa League. In June 2014, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £50 million, a world record transfer for a defender, and won all four domestic competitions over his two seasons in French football. He returned to Chelsea in August 2016 in a £30 million transfer deal.
David Luiz made his full international debut for Brazil in 2010 and has since earned over 50 caps for his country. He was a member of the Brazilian teams which won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and has also represented his nation in two editions of the Copa América.
Born in Diadema, Sao Paulo, to Ladislao and Regina Marinho, David Luiz arrived at Salvador-based club Vitória after being released by Sao Paulo, and started playing as a defensive midfielder, almost leaving the club for his poor performances in that position. However, he was soon moved to central defender and adapted well.
David Luiz made his official debut for Vitória in 2006, excelling in a 2-2 draw against Santa Cruz for that season's Copa do Brasil. At the worst situation of its history, in the third division, the club eventually promoted to the second level after finishing in second position, with the player appearing in eight of the club's last decisive nine games, scoring his only league goal on 3 September 2006 in a 2-0 home win against Clube Atlético do Porto.
On 30 January 2007, David Luiz joined Portuguese club Benfica as a replacement for Tottenham Hotspur-bound Ricardo Rocha, on loan. He made a somewhat tumultuous debut for the club in a UEFA Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, partnering compatriot Anderson in the centre of defence, replacing the injured Luisão. Benfica lost the match 2-1, but managed to progress to the next round after winning 4-3 on aggregate.
On 12 March 2007, he played his first league match for Benfica, against União de Leiria. At the end of the season, David Luiz signed a five-year deal with the club and at the end of the season, following ten league appearances, he joined permanently for EUR1.5 million. Before the ensuing campaign, he scored his first goal for the club in the Guadiana Trophy friendly tournament, against Sporting Clube de Portugal. David Luiz only managed eight appearances in the league due to injury, however, as Benfica finished fourth.
On 11 January 2009, David Luiz netted his first official goal for Benfica, the game's only in a home success against Braga. He played most of the campaign as a left back, at the expense of Portuguese international Jorge Ribeiro.
On 31 January 2011, David Luiz completed a move to Chelsea for a fee of EUR25 million, a five-and-a-half-year contract, with Nemanja Matic joining Benfica at the end of the season after his transfer spell away at Vitesse in the Netherlands.
He made his official Premier League debut on 6 February, replacing José Bosingwa in a 0-1 home loss against Liverpool. Eight days later, he made his first start for Chelsea in a 0-0 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage. Instantly becoming a cult hero amongst the Chelsea fans, David Luiz was awarded the Barclays Man of the Match award for his performance, despite giving away a penalty in the 93rd minute of the game, which was saved by Petr Cech.
On 1 March, David Luiz scored his first goal for Chelsea to help the Blues come from behind to win 2-1 against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge. On 20 March, he headed in his second goal for the Blues for a 2-0 home win over Manchester City, and again receiving the man of the match award, as well as the Premier League Player of the Month for March.
