Thiago Emiliano da Silva is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Chelsea and the Brazil national team. Widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation, he is known for his defensive prowess, discipline, and leadership.
Silva began his senior club career in 2002 playing as a midfielder for RS Futebol, and transitioned to a defensive position while at Juventude; he then signed with Porto in 2004, at age 19, and moved to Dynamo Moscow on loan, where he was hospitalized with a near fatal bout of tuberculosis. After recovering, he joined Fluminense and won a Copa do Brasil. In 2009, Silva moved to AC Milan for a reported fee of €8 million and won a Serie A title.
In 2012, Silva was the subject of a then-record association football transfer when he signed for Paris Saint-Germain in a transfer worth up to €42 million, becoming the most expensive defender ever at the time. There, he won seven Ligue 1 titles, six Coupes de la Ligue, five Coupes de France, and reached the 2020 UEFA Champions League Final. Silva holds the record as the club's longest ever serving captain and ranks eighth-highest all-time for appearances. In 2020, he signed for Chelsea on a free transfer, and won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club.
Silva made his senior international debut for Brazil in 2008, at age 23, and has since earned over 110 caps, including appearing in eight major tournaments. He won a bronze medal in the 2008 Olympics and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, and later served as captain as Brazil won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and finished fourth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Silva later helped his country win the 2019 Copa América.
