Nuno Valente Santos

BIOGRAPHY

Nuno Valente Santos was born March 2, 1999 in Porto, Portugal. He is a midfielder in Major League Soccer.

Born in Porto, Santos was a youth player at his city's two major teams, Boavista F.C. and FC Porto, before joining S.L. Benfica in 2012. He made his debut for the reserve team in LigaPro on 8 August 2017 as the season opened with a 2–1 away loss against U.D. Oliveirense, and scored his first goal the following 6 January at the end of a 3–1 defeat at FC Porto B. In 2018–19 he scored a career-best seven goals (adding five in seven matches in the UEFA Youth League), subsequently renewing his contract until 2024. By then captain of Benfica B, Santos was loaned to Primeira Liga club Moreirense F.C. on 29 January 2020. He made his top-flight debut four days later by starting in a 5–1 away victory over Gil Vicente FC. His first goal at the level came on 11 July to win the game at Belenenses SAD.  Santos continued to be loaned the following two seasons, to Boavista and F.C. Paços de Ferreira. On 19 November 2021, while in service of the latter side, he put his team ahead against his parent club in the fourth round of the Taça de Portugal, but in a 4–1 loss.

On 5 August 2022, Santos signed a two-year deal with Charlotte FC in Major League Soccer.