David Luiz

David Luiz
David Luiz lining up for Chelsea before the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final
Personal information
Full name David Luiz Moreira Marinho
Date of birth (1987-04-22) 22 April 1987
Place of birth Diadema, Brazil
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Centre-back, defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
Fortaleza
Number 23
Youth career
1999–2001 São Paulo
2001–2005 Vitória
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Vitória 52 (2)
2007–2011 Benfica 82 (4)
2011–2014 Chelsea 81 (6)
2014–2016 Paris Saint-Germain 56 (3)
2016–2019 Chelsea 79 (5)
2019–2021 Arsenal 53 (3)
2021–2024 Flamengo 64 (4)
2025– Fortaleza 8 (0)
International career
2007 Brazil U20 6 (0)
2010–2017 Brazil 57 (3)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner2013 Brazil
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:51, 13 June 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07:28, 19 June 2020 (UTC)

David Luiz Moreira Marinho (born 22 April 1987) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Fortaleza. He is primarily a centre-back, but has also been deployed as a defensive midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of the best defenders of his era.

After starting out at Vitoria, David Luiz moved to Benfica, remaining with the club for five seasons (three complete). He joined Chelsea in January 2011, winning the UEFA Champions League during the 2011–12 season. In the following season he won the UEFA Europa League. In June 2014, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £50 million, at that time a world record transfer for a defender, and won all four domestic competitions over his two seasons in French football. During his time in France, Luiz was selected in the FIFPRO Men's World 11 in 2014. He returned to Chelsea in August 2016 in a £30 million transfer deal, winning a Premier League and second Europa League title. He transferred to local rivals Arsenal in 2019 before returning to his home country to play for Flamengo in 2021.

David Luiz made his full international debut for Brazil in 2010 and has since earned more than 50 caps for his country. He was a member of the Brazilian teams which won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the semi-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, and has also represented his nation in two editions of the Copa América.