After starting out at Vitoria, David Luiz moved toBenfica, remaining with the club for five seasons (three complete). He joinedChelsea in January 2011,winning the UEFA Champions League during the 2011–12 season. In the following season he won theUEFA Europa League. In June 2014, he transferred toParis Saint-Germain for a fee of £50 million, at that time aworld record transfer for a defender,[5][6][7] and won all four domestic competitions over his two seasons in French football. During his time in France, Luiz was selected in theFIFPRO Men's World 11 in 2014.[8] He returned to Chelsea in August 2016 in a £30 million transfer deal, winning aPremier League and secondEuropa League title. He transferred to local rivalsArsenal in 2019 before returning to his home country to play for Flamengo in 2021.
David Luiz made his full international debut for Brazil in 2010 and has since earned more than 50caps for his country. He was a member of the Brazilian teams which won the2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the semi-finals of the2014 FIFA World Cup, and has also represented his nation in two editions of theCopa América.
Born inDiadema, São Paulo, to Ladislao and Regina Marinho, David Luiz arrived atSalvador-based clubVitória after being released bySão Paulo,[9] and started playing as adefensive midfielder, almost leaving the club for his poor performances in that position.[10] However, he was soon moved to central defender and adapted well.[11]
David Luiz made his debut for Vitória in 2006, excelling in a 2–2 draw againstSanta Cruz inthat season'sCopa do Brasil.[11] At the worst situation of its history, in thethird division, the club eventuallypromoted to thesecond level after finishing in second position, with the player appearing in eight of the club's last decisive nine games,[12] scoring his only league goal on 3 September 2006 in a 2–0 home win againstClube Atlético do Porto.[13]
On 12 March 2007, David Luiz played his firstleague match for Benfica, againstUnião de Leiria.[15] At the end ofthe season, following ten league appearances, he joined permanently for a €1.5 million transfer fee[16] and signed a five-year contract with the club.[17] Before the ensuing campaign, he scored his first goal for the club in theGuadiana Trophy friendly tournament, againstSporting CP. However, David Luiz only managed eight appearances in theleague due to injury as Benfica finished fourth.
However, it was in the2009–10 season, when new managerJorge Jesus arrived to Benfica, that David Luiz became a club symbol and vice-captain. He was ever-present, appearing in 49 matches (three goals, 4,206 minutes), as Benfica won the league after a five-year wait. Inthe season'sTaça da Liga, in a 1–4 away win against Sporting CP, he opened the score in the eighth minute, with Benfica also eventually winning the competition. David Luiz won thePortuguese Liga Player of the Year that same season with 38% of the vote while the runner-up, his teammateÁngel Di María, received 8%.[16]
On 30 September 2009, Benfica sold 25% of David Luiz's economic rights on any future transfer to athird-party owner,Benfica Stars Fund, along with other teammates. He was valued at €18 million, with the fund paying €4.5 million;[18] his contract was also renewed in October with a release clause of €50 million.[19]
On 31 January 2011, David Luiz completed a move toChelsea for a €25 million transfer fee and subsequently signed a five-and-a-half-year contract. As part of the deal, Chelsea midfielderNemanja Matić joined Benfica at the end of the season after his transfer spell at Dutch clubVitesse.[20][21][22][23]
David Luiz made hisPremier League debut on 6 February, replacingJosé Bosingwa in a 0–1 home loss againstLiverpool.[24] Eight days later in a 0–0 draw againstFulham atCraven Cottage, he made his first start for Chelsea. Instantly becoming a cult hero amongst the Chelsea fans, David Luiz was awarded the BarclaysMan of the Match award for his performance, despite giving away apenalty in the 93rd minute of the match, which was saved byPetr Čech.[25]
On 5 February 2012, in a league home fixture against Manchester United, David Luiz put Chelsea ahead 3–0 in the 50th minute after his header was deflected byRio Ferdinand, following aJuan Matafree kick. The match ended with a 3–3 draw.[32] On 25 February, through a curled shot, he opened the score againstBolton Wanderers in an eventual 3–0 at home.[33]
On 14 March, Chelsea facedNapoli in the Champions League'sround of 16, following a 3–1 loss at theStadio San Paolo inNaples.[34] David Luiz made a stunning performance to help his team win the tie with a 4–1extra-time win, being subsequently chosen byUEFA as the man of the match,[35] an accolade he also received in the first leg of the quarter-finals against former team Benfica in a 0–1 away win. However, after leaving the pitch in theFA Cup semi-final againstrivals Tottenham with a muscular injury,[36] it was announced that he would miss both of the Champions League semi-finals encounters againstBarcelona and thedomestic cup final. He played, however, in theChampions League final –John Terry was also suspended for the match[37] – David Luiz appeared, and started for Chelsea, playing the full 120 minutes, along with converting his penalty shootout attempt as the Blues won the shootout 4–3.[38]
On 22 September 2012, David Luiz signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.[39] He startedthe new season again as a regular alongside eitherGary Cahill or Terry, and scored his first goal from a free-kick againstNordsjælland in a 0–4 away win inthe campaign's Champions League.[40] In theClub World Cup in2012, in which Chelsea lost in the final toCorinthians, he was chosen the second best player of the tournament, receiving theSilver Ball for his performances, one of which was as a defensive midfielder. He played in that position in an 8–0 home thrashing ofAston Villa the following week, being chosen man of the Match and netting the second from a free-kick.[41][42]
On 17 April 2013, David Luiz scored during a 3–0West London derby victory against Fulham. He also scored in both legs of theEuropa League semi-finals againstBasel; the first was a last minute, low free-kick curled around the wall and into the goalkeeper's bottom left-hand corner to secure a dramatic 2–1 away win, giving Chelsea an advantage going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge.[43][44]
David Luiz was widely criticised for a controversial incident during Chelsea's 0–1 away win over Manchester United atOld Trafford on 5 May. After he elbowed opponentRafael, the United defender kicked out at him and was sent off. David Luiz, however, was seen smiling while lying on the ground before writhing around in mock agony.[45][46] David Luiz defended himself, saying he was smiling at the Manchester United fans who could be seen screaming insults and laughing at him.[47]
On 19 January 2015, David Luiz scored his first Ligue 1 goal in a 4–2 defeat ofEvian.[51] On 11 March, he scored on his return to Stamford Bridge in theround of 16 of the Champions League as PSG drew 2–2 with his former club Chelsea to knock out the English club onaway goals.[52] He apologised for celebrating the goal, saying that it was the result of sudden emotion rather than malice towards his former employers.[53]
David Luiz returned to Chelsea from PSG, for a reported fee of £34 million,[56] in August 2016 and signed a three-year deal.[57] His first game back with the club was a 2–1 defeat at home to Liverpool on 16 September.[58] On 31 January 2017 he scored his first goal for the season from a free kick against Liverpool atAnfield, his first Premier League goal since April 2013.[59] At the end of the season, David Luiz was named in thePFA Team of the Year for2016–17.[60]
David Luiz was selected for Chelsea's first match of the2017–18 Premier League season, againstBurnley on 12 August 2017, and scored late on in their 3–2 defeat.[61] On 17 September 2017, Luiz received a straight red after a poor challenge onSead Kolašinac during a 0–0 draw againstArsenal. Luiz became the third player to be sent-off in the last three meetings between the tworivals from London; with the others beingPedro during theFA Community Shield andVictor Moses during theFA Cup Final.[62] Chelsea went on to win the2017-18 FA Cup but David Luiz was injured and missed thefinal.[63]
David Luiz scored his first goal of the2018–19 Premier League, heading in the second goal in Chelsea's 2–0 home win over the previously undefeated Manchester City on 8 December.[64] He hit the winning penalty in a 4–2 shootout win in theEFL Cup semi-final second leg at home to Tottenham Hotspur on 24 January 2019.[65]
On 8 August 2019, Arsenal signed David Luiz from Chelsea for a reported £8 million transfer fee. He received the number 23 shirt for the club.[66][67] On 6 October 2019, he scored the match's winning goal, his first for Arsenal, in a 1–0 victory againstAFC Bournemouth.[68] In a 2–2 home draw againstCrystal Palace, he scored his second Arsenal goal.[69] In a match against former club Chelsea in January 2020, he was sent-off after conceding a penalty. While Arsenal eventually drew the match,[70] David Luiz received a three-match suspension from domestic play.[71] He made his return in a Premier League match againstEverton, during which he recorded his first assist for Arsenal.[72]
Following the suspension of football due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, David Luiz was named on the bench in a match at theEtihad Stadium against Manchester City.[when?] However, an injury toPablo Marí saw him enter play just 24 minutes in. He then committed an error leading to City's first goal before he conceded a penalty and was sent-off early in the second half. In so doing, he became the first player to receive a red card (making him the player with the most red cards this season), concede a penalty and commit an error leading to goal in a Premier League match for five years.[73]
In Arsenal's final match of the season, David Luiz gave away a penalty againstWatford; this was the fifth penalty he had conceded that season, setting a Premier League record for most penalties conceded by a single player in a single season.[74][75][76] On 1 August 2020, David Luiz was selected to start in theFA Cup Final against his former club Chelsea, as Arsenal won their 14th FA Cup.[77]
On 29 November 2020, he was a part of a severe head collision withRaúl Jiménez at theEmirates Stadium in which Jiménez was knocked out. Jiménez was sent to a London hospital and received surgery for hisfractured skull, whilst David Luiz was only bandaged on the head due to a cut on his forehead. He was surprisingly allowed to play on after the incident but was subbed off at half time. He was last seen bleeding through his bandage before the half time whistle, which led to a spark of protests from both footballers and fans, demanding a 'free substitution' for those who are concussed on the pitch.
On 28 February 2021, he scored his first Premier League goal of the season in a 3–1 away win againstLeicester City.[79] On 6 March, he made his 50th league appearance for Arsenal in a 1–1 draw againstBurnley.[80]
It was confirmed on 18 May by managerMikel Arteta that David Luiz would leave the club at the end of his contract in June 2021.[81]
On 11 September 2021, David Luiz signed a 15-month contract withFlamengo, making his return to Brazil after spending nearly 15 years playing club football in Europe.[82] He was part of the Flamengo squad that competed in the2021 Copa Libertadores Final on 27 November, playing the full 120 minutes as his team lost 2–1 toPalmeiras after extra time.[83] On 29 October 2022, he played in the2022 Copa Libertadores Final againstAthletico Paranaense, which ended in a 1–0 victory; hence, he became the twelfth player to win both the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores.[84]
On 13 May 2023, David Luiz scored his first goal for Flamengo.[85] In the sixth round of theCampeonato Brasileiro, againstEsporte Clube Bahia, David Luiz hit a header to goalkeeperMarcos Felipe. Despite scoring the first goal, David Luiz did not celebrate. After the game, he explained why he didn't celebrate:
It's a very special city for me. I left home very early to come to Salvador. I didn't celebrate because I didn't know if it would be an impediment or not.
— David Luiz
On 22 December 2024, Flamengo confirmed that Luiz would not have his contract renewed and would subsequently leave the club. David Luiz left Rubro-Negro after 132 games for the club: 75 wins, 28 draws and 29 losses. The defender scored four goals and provided two assists. In addition, he won a Libertadores, two Copa do Brasil and a Carioca.[86]
On 20 January 2025,Fortaleza announced the signing of David Luiz on a free transfer until 31 December 2026, with the option of an additional year's extension.[87] On 11 February, he made his debut in a 2–1 defeat toAltos in theCopa do Nordeste.[88] He left the club by mutual consent on 1 August, having made 17 appearances in a six-month spell.[89]
On 3 August 2025,Cypriot First Division clubPafos announced the signing of Luiz on a contract until the summer of 2027.[90]Returning to European football in nearly four years. On 13 September, Luiz made his league debut for Pafos in a 1–0 loss againstApollon. He would score his first goal for the club in a 4–0 win againstEthnikos Achna on 17 October 2025.
David Luiz was present in every squad during the management of Menezes and was called up to thesquad for theCopa América in2011, but did not make a single appearance at the tournament due to injury.[29] In a friendly withMexico in October of that year, he scored anown goal, but theSeleção eventually won it 2–1.
On 7 September 2012, David Luizcaptained Brazil for the first time, appearing in a 1–0 victory againstSouth Africa in São Paulo.[94] He was included inthe squad for theFIFA Confederations Cup in2013, which was hosted in his native Brazil. Alongside teammateThiago Silva, David Luiz started all matches and helped Brazil win their fourth Confederations Cup title. In thefinal againstSpain, he made an outstanding goal-line clearance fromPedro's shot.[95][96]
On 2 June, David Luiz was named inBrazil's squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[97] He scored his first international goal in a 1–1 draw againstChile in theround of 16. He subsequently converted the team's first kick in thepenalty shootout as they prevailed 3–2.[98] He scored the winning goal from a 35-yard free kick in a 2–1 win againstColombia in thequarter-final, andcelebrated the goal by running towards the corner flag and kicking it.[99] In the absence of Thiago Silva due to suspension, David Luiz captained theSeleção in their infamous7–1 defeat toGermany at thesemi-final stage of the tournament.[100] Brazil went on to lose the third-place play-off 3–0 against theNetherlands.[101]
Although primarily acentre back, David Luiz can also be deployed as adefensive midfielder or as afull back, and has drawn praise for his physical strength, work-rate, technique, and range of distribution as a defender, as well as his personality, composure in possession, and confidence on the ball, which enables him to play the ball out from the back or launch an attack with long balls after winning back possession. A powerful striker of the ball from distance, Luiz has also been known to take and score from long-range free kicks, which ledTim Vickery to liken him to compatriotLúcio in 2011. Although in the past he has been criticised in the media for his inconsistent defensive performances, and for being reckless in his challenges and conceding an excessive number of fouls (some of which have caused injuries to his opponents), as well as for being prone to errors or lapses in concentration, during the 2016–17 season, he showed notable improvements upon his return to Chelsea, when the club's new managerAntonio Conte decided to deploy him as aball-playing centre back in a three-man back-line in the team's3–4–3 formation. Luiz excelled in the new role, while Conte praised the defender for working to improve his composure and concentration, and singled out Luiz as being "crucial" to the team's success, also labelling him as one of the best defenders in the world.[3][4][59][99][105][106][107][108][109][110][111][112]
David Luiz is a devoutEvangelicalChristian and has namedKaká as his role model.[16] He said, "My faith gives me the belief that I can go out and perform and improve as a player. It gives me strength and inspiration." He later added, "Everything in life belongs toGod. Our purpose has already been mapped out."[113] He received baptism in May 2015 in the indoor swimming pool of his Brazil and PSG teammateMaxwell.[114]
Earlier in his career, David Luiz was likened physically to the Brazilian basketball playerAnderson Varejão by fans in his own country, due to their similar hairstyle.[16] In England, he was referred to asThe Simpsons villainSideshow Bob by opposition fans, and also in self-reference.[115]
David Luiz is also a Portuguese citizen, which was acquired during his time at Benfica. Portugal wanted him to represent theirnational team, but he opted to play for his native Brazil instead.[116]
In 2018, Luiz and his teammateWillian acquired Babbo, an Italian restaurant located inMayfair, London.[117]
In August 2025, David Luiz was named in a police report filed by a woman who claimed she had been threatened after becoming in a relationship with him and another partner.[118] The player denied the allegations, stating that there had been no meeting or threats against the woman.
^"Comunicado" [Announcement](PDF) (in Portuguese). CMVM. 30 September 2010.Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^"Comunicado" [Announcement](PDF) (in Portuguese). CMVM. 15 October 2009.Archived(PDF) from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^"Comunicado" [Announcement](PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 31 January 2011.Archived(PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^McNulty, Phil (6 February 2011)."Chelsea 0–1 Liverpool".BBC Sport.Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^Ashenden, Mark (14 February 2011)."Fulham 0–0 Chelsea".BBC Sport.Archived from the original on 14 February 2011. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^McNulty, Phil (1 March 2011)."Chelsea 2–1 Man Utd".BBC Sport.Archived from the original on 2 March 2011. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^Magowan, Alistair (20 March 2011)."Chelsea 2–0 Man City".BBC Sport.Archived from the original on 21 March 2011. Retrieved9 October 2017.
^Luckhurst, Simon (7 May 2013)."David Luíz 'Smiled at Sideshow Bob' Gibe, Not Rafael Da Silva Red Card".HuffPost.Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved9 October 2017.The Chelsea defender was widely criticised for smiling as he lay on the turf after Rafael lashed out at his compatriot, following two elbows from the Brazilian during Chelsea's 1–0 Barclays Premier League win.
^McDonnell, David (6 May 2013)."Con artist: Fergie slams Chelsea's smiling victim David Luiz for 'getting Rafael sent off'".Daily Mirror.Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved9 October 2017.Rafael was shown a straight red card for kicking out at Luiz... But the talking point was the dismissal, with Manchester United boss Ferguson incensed by Luiz, who was caught smiling by TV cameras, before writhing around in mock agony to get Rafael sent off in the 89th minute.
^"UNE GRANDE PREMIÈRE RÉUSSIE!" [A Great First Success!] (in French). Paris Saint-Germain F.C. 16 August 2014. Archived fromthe original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved30 September 2014.
.jpg)
.jpg)
