# Souza (footballer, born 2006)
**Souza** is the professional name of **João Victor de Souza Menezes** (born 2006), a Brazilian footballer who plays as a left-back. He came through the youth system of Santos, joined Tottenham Hotspur of the Premier League in January 2026, and joined Portuguese club Porto on loan in August 2026.[1](https://www.santosfc.com.br/souza/) • [2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) • [3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/souza/1482340)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | João Victor de Souza Menezes[1](https://www.santosfc.com.br/souza/) |
| Born | 2006, Mauá, São Paulo, Brazil[1](https://www.santosfc.com.br/souza/) |
| Position | Left-back (defender); left-footed[1](https://www.santosfc.com.br/souza/) • [4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1636513/souza) |
| Youth career | Santos FC from 2016, aged nine[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) |
| Senior clubs | Santos (2024–2025), Tottenham Hotspur (from January 2026), Porto on loan (from 31 August 2026)[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) • [3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/souza/1482340) |
| Tottenham record | Joined 22 January 2026, debut 7 February 2026, legacy number 903, squad number 38, 4 Premier League appearances[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) • [5](https://www.premierleague.com/en/players/616221/souza/overview) |
| International | 12 caps for Brazil at under-17 level; played at the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup[6](https://www.transfermarkt.fr/souza/profil/spieler/1086258) • [2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) |
| Contract | Tottenham contract to 30 June 2031; Porto loan until 30 June 2027[6](https://www.transfermarkt.fr/souza/profil/spieler/1086258) • [3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/souza/1482340) |
## Early life and Santos career
Souza was born in Mauá, in the state of São Paulo, and joined Santos's youth setup in 2016 at the age of nine.[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) He progressed through the ranks and made his first-team debut against Mirassol in the [Campeonato Paulista](https://www.edgepedia.org/campeonato-paulista), the São Paulo state championship, in January 2025.[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography)
His senior record at Santos covers two Brazilian league seasons. In the 2024 Série B season, which Santos finished first, he played 8 league matches with 3 starts, 303 minutes, and 2 assists.[7](https://fbref.com/en/players/10b0c6f4/Souza) The Spanish newspaper AS gave a fuller count for that year, one goal and four assists in 14 matches, a figure that differs from the league-only statistics.[8](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/una-joya-en-medio-del-caos-neymar-souza-n/) He made his debut in Brazil's top flight, Série A, in May 2025 and registered 24 appearances in the competition that season, with 1 goal and 2 assists in 1,639 minutes.[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) • [7](https://fbref.com/en/players/10b0c6f4/Souza)
**Injury setback.** Early in 2025 an ankle injury required surgery and kept him out for about three months, delaying his establishment in the Santos side.[8](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/una-joya-en-medio-del-caos-neymar-souza-n/) After returning he settled into the left-back position and renewed his contract, and AS reported that several European clubs had sounded out a signing.[8](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/una-joya-en-medio-del-caos-neymar-souza-n/)
## Move to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur announced an agreement with Santos for the transfer of Souza on 22 January 2026, with Sofascore's transfer history recording a fee of 15 million euros.[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) • [3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/souza/1482340) He was given squad number 38 and legacy number 903, and made his debut on 7 February 2026 against Manchester United.[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) Premier League records show 4 appearances, with no goals or assists, in the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons.[5](https://www.premierleague.com/en/players/616221/souza/overview) His contract with [Tottenham](https://www.edgepedia.org/tottenham) runs to 30 June 2031.[6](https://www.transfermarkt.fr/souza/profil/spieler/1086258)
## Loan to Porto
On 31 August 2026 Souza joined Porto on loan until 30 June 2027, with Porto covering his salary before he returns to Tottenham.[3](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/souza/1482340) He wears number 33 at Porto and is registered for the club's 2026–27 [UEFA Champions League](https://www.edgepedia.org/uefa-champions-league) squad.[9](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/players/250224970--souza/) His early months in Portugal were spent as an unused substitute in league and Champions League matches.[4](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1636513/souza)
## International career
Souza was capped 12 times by Brazil at under-17 level without scoring.[6](https://www.transfermarkt.fr/souza/profil/spieler/1086258) He represented his country at the [FIFA U-17 World Cup](https://www.edgepedia.org/fifa-u-17-world-cup) in November 2023.[2](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography) AS also reported that he was part of the Brazil side that won the South American Under-17 Championship the previous year.[10](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/pugna-barca-chelsea-por-el-nuevo-marcelo-souza-n/)
## Playing style
Souza is a left-footed left-back listed at 1.80 m by Santos and 1.83 m by Transfermarkt.[1](https://www.santosfc.com.br/souza/) • [6](https://www.transfermarkt.fr/souza/profil/spieler/1086258) AS described him as standing out for his change of pace and technique while also contributing defensively, citing ball-recovery numbers and 80 percent effectiveness in one-on-one defensive duels over eight Santos matches in the 2025 season.[10](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/pugna-barca-chelsea-por-el-nuevo-marcelo-souza-n/) The same report noted that he developed in youth football as a winger and at times played as a midfielder before establishing himself as a full-back.[10](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/pugna-barca-chelsea-por-el-nuevo-marcelo-souza-n/)
## References
1. [Souza, Santos Futebol Clube player page](https://www.santosfc.com.br/souza/)
2. [Souza biography, Tottenham Hotspur F.C.](https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/player/616221/-souza/biography)
3. [Souza player profile and transfer history, Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/football/player/souza/1482340)
4. [Souza stats, career and market value, FotMob](https://www.fotmob.com/players/1636513/souza)
5. [Souza Tottenham Hotspur profile and stats, Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/en/players/616221/souza/overview)
6. [Souza player profile, Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.fr/souza/profil/spieler/1086258)
7. [Souza standard stats, FBref](https://fbref.com/en/players/10b0c6f4/Souza)
8. [Una joya en medio del 'caos Neymar': Souza, Diario AS](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/una-joya-en-medio-del-caos-neymar-souza-n/)
9. [Souza, Porto, UEFA Champions League 2026/27, UEFA.com](https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/clubs/players/250224970--souza/)
10. [Pugna Barça-Chelsea por el 'nuevo Marcelo': Souza, Diario AS](https://as.com/futbol/internacional/pugna-barca-chelsea-por-el-nuevo-marcelo-souza-n/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Brazilian men's footballers › Contemporary Brazilian footballers › Brazilian footballers born in the 2000s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license