Paulinho (footballer, born 1999)

Paulo Rafael Pereira Araújo (born 21 September 1999) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga Portugal 2 club Torreense, on loan from Danish Superliga club Viborg.

Paulinho

Personal information
Full name	Paulo Rafael Pereira Araújo
Date of birth	(1999-09-21) 21 September 1999 (age 24)
Place of birth	Braga, Portugal
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Torreense (on loan from Viborg)
Number	9
Youth career
2008–2010	Ferreirense
2010–2011	Braga
2011–2013	Ferreirense
2013–2014	Arsenal da Devesa
2014–2015	Os Alegrienses
2015–2016	Vizela
2016–2018	Merelinense
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2020	São Paio D'Arcos	47	(25)
2020–2021	Fafe	24	(8)
2021–2022	Estrela	39	(15)
2022–	Viborg	11	(1)
2023	→ Portimonense (loan)	8	(0)
2024–	→ Torreense (loan)	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:01, 3 February 2024 (UTC)

Career

Club career

Paulinho started his career at FC Ferreirense in Braga, and later also played for S.C. Braga, Arsenal da Devesa, Os Alegrienses, F.C. Vizela and Merelinense. As a senior, he started out at São Paio D'Arcos, where he played from 2018 until 2020.^[1] Ahead of the 2021–22 season, Paulinho moved to AD Fafe, which at the time played in the Portuguese fourth tier, Campeonato de Portugal.^[2] At Fafe, Paulinho played 24 league games, scoring 8 goals.

In June 2021, Paulinho signed a two-year deal Estrela.^[3] During his one and a half seasons at Estrela, he played 44 games and scored 19 goals.

At the end of January 2023, Paulinho joined Danish Superliga side Viborg FF, signing a deal until June 2026.^[4] After managing just 1 goal in 13 appearances in all competitions, in June 2023 he was loaned to Primeira Liga club Portimonense for the upcoming season.^[5] After Paulinho failing to score for 9 appearances in all competitions for the Portimão-based club, for the second-half of the season, Viborg ended his spell at Portimonense and instead loaned him to Liga Portugal 2 side Torreense, with an option-to-buy.^[6][7]

References

1. Paulinho - Há três anos estava na distrital de Braga, agora é reforço na I Liga, gds.pt, 29 June 2023
2. AD Fafe 2020/21: Paulinho ao ataque, facebook.com, 20 July 2020
3. Estrela da Amadora apresentou Paulinho, ojogo.pt, 17 June 2021
4. Paulinho er klar for VFF, vff.dk, 31 January 2023
5. Paulinho udlejes til Portimonense, vff.dk, 28 June 2023
6. "Paulinho é reforço" [Paulinho is reinforcement] (in Portuguese). S.C.U. Torreense. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
7. "Paulinho på lån hos SCU Torreense" [Paulinho on loan at SCU Torreense] (in Danish). Viborg F.F. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.

External links

• Paulinho at Soccerway