Rafael da Silva (; born 4 April 1992) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Série B club Vila Nova.
Early life Rafael was born in São Paulo.
Club career Rafael Silva started his professional football career with Campeonato Brasileiro Série A side Coritiba in the 2012 league season. He would make his debut on 8 April 2012 against Cianorte in the Campeonato Paranaense in a 3–1 victory. This would be followed by his first goal for the club on 29 April 2012 against Roma Apucarana in the Campeonato Paranaense in a 3–1 win.
Rafael joined Albirex Niigata in August 2014 from Swiss Challenge League club Lugano. He made his debut for the club in a 2–0 away loss to Sanfrecce Hiroshima on 20 September 2014. He scored his first goal for the club against Kawasaki Frontale on 5 October. After three seasons with Albirex Niigata he would move to another Japanese club in Urawa Red Diamonds where in his debut season he immediately established himself as a vital member of the team that went on to win the 2017 AFC Champions League.
On 3 February 2018, Rafael transferred to second tier Chinese football club Wuhan Zall. He would make his debut and score his first goal for the club on 11 March 2018 in a league game against Shanghai Shenxin in a 1–0 victory. He would go on to establish himself as a vital member of the team and he would win the division as well as gaining promotion at the end of the 2018 China League One campaign.
Career statistics Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2017 J1&J2&J3選手名鑑 (NSK MOOK)", 8 February 2017, Japan, (p. 17 out of 289)Nippon Sports Kikaku Publishing inc./日本スポーツ企画出版社, "2016J1&J2&J3選手名鑑", 07 January 2018, Japan, (p. 123 out of 289)
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueNational CupLeague CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsCoritiba2012Série A702130———1212013Série A0080——00—80Total7010130—00—201Lugano2013–14Swiss Challenge League269—10———2792014–15Swiss Challenge League33—00———33Total2912—10———3012Albirex Niigata2014J1 League71—00———712015J1 League177—2192——28102016J1 League2311—0020——2511Total4719—21112——6022Urawa Red Diamonds2017J1 League2512—1020119304221Wuhan Zall/Wuhan2018China League One2322—00———23222019Chinese Super League158—00———1582020Chinese Super League00—00——00002021Chinese Super League41—00———41Total4231—00——004231Cruzeiro2022Série B166—20———186Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors2023K League 1243—10–00—253Cruzeiro2024Série A933000—51—174Mirassol2025Série A0010————10América Mineiro (loan)2025Série B100—————100 Career total2098614191132161030264100
Honours Club Coritiba Campeonato Paranaense: 2012, 2013
Urawa Red Diamonds AFC Champions League: 2017
Wuhan Zall China League One: 2018
References
External links
Profile at Albirex Niigata Profile at Urawa Reds