João Palhinha grew up in Lisbon and came through Sporting CP’s system. He spent time on loan at Moreirense, Belenenses and Braga before returning to Sporting and winning the Portuguese title in 2020/21.
Fulham signed him in 2022, and he became one of the Premier League’s best tacklers and defensive midfielders. Bayern Munich signed him in 2024, and he spent 2025/26 on loan at Tottenham.
Palhinha joined Benfica in 2026. He is a regular for Portugal.
Playing style
Palhinha is a tall, physical defensive midfielder who is one of the best tacklers in European football. He wins the ball back, protects the defence and is strong in the air. At Fulham he regularly topped the Premier League’s tackle statistics. His move to Bayern did not work out as planned, and after a loan at Tottenham he joined Benfica.
International career
Palhinha made his Portugal debut in 2021 and played at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
Career in numbers
Since his first senior season in 2015/16, Palhinha has made 373 club appearances and scored 29 goals in all competitions for 8 clubs. The 2025/26 season, with 7 goals from 45 matches for Tottenham Hotspur, remains his highest tally. So far in 2026/27 he has made 6 appearances for Benfica. The full season-by-season record is in the Stats section of this profile.