David Tavares
Cape Verdean footballer (born 1999)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David José Gomes Oliveira Tavares (born 18 March 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Azerbaijan Premier League club Turan Tovuz. Born in Portugal, he plays for the Cape Verde national team.
|
Tavares being interviewed by Benfica TV in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | David José Gomes Oliveira Tavares[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 March 1999[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Turan Tovuz | ||
| Number | 8 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2009–2013 | AC Tojal | ||
| 2013–2014 | Loures | ||
| 2014–2016 | Sporting CP | ||
| 2016–2018 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | Benfica B | 36 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Benfica | 0 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Moreirense (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| 2021–2024 | Famalicão | 18 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Torreense (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | Gloria Buzău | 27 | (1) |
| 2025– | Turan Tovuz | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | Portugal U17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2017 | Portugal U18 | 2 | (0) |
| 2018 | Portugal U19 | 4 | (0) |
| 2023– | Cape Verde | 5 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11 April 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 September 2024 | |||
Club career
Benfica
Born in Lisbon of Cape Verdean descent, Tavares finished his youth career with S.L. Benfica after arriving from neighbours Sporting CP at the age of 17.[2][3] He made his senior debut with the former's reserves in the LigaPro, his first match being on 16 March 2019 when he came on an 89th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home win against F.C. Penafiel.[4]
Tavares made the first of two competitive appearances with the first team on 17 September 2019, replacing Jota midway through the second half of an eventual 1–2 home loss to RB Leipzig in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.[5][6] In September 2020, he joined Moreirense F.C. of the Primeira Liga in a season-long loan,[7] playing his first game in the competition on 2 October in a 1–1 home draw with Boavista FC.[8]
On 26 January 2021, Tavares was reinstated in the B side of his parent club, leaving Moreirense after allegedly falling out with manager Vasco Seabra.[9]
Famalicão
On 29 June 2021, Tavares signed a five-year contract with F.C. Famalicão.[10] He suffered a serious injury in December that sidelined him for several months, while in service of the under-23 side to where he had been sent due to disciplinary problems.[11]
Tavares joined second-tier S.C.U. Torreense on 31 August 2023, loaned for one season.[12]
Gloria Buzău
On 25 July 2024, Tavares agreed to a deal at FC Gloria Buzău in the Romanian Liga I.[13] He scored his first goal as a senior the following 24 January, in the 3–0 home victory over AFC Unirea Slobozia;[14] his side would be relegated at the end of the campaign in last place, and dissolved shortly after.[15]
Later career
In June 2025, Tavares signed a three-year contract with Azerbaijan Premier League club Turan Tovuz.[16]
International career
Tavares represented Portugal at youth level.[17] In March 2023, he was called to the Cape Verde national team for a double 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eswatini,[18] but only made his debut on 12 June in a 0–0 friendly draw with Morocco.[19][20]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 11 April 2025[21]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2018–19 | LigaPro | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | |||
| 2019–20 | LigaPro | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | 11 | 0 | ||||
| 2020–21 | Liga Portugal 2 | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 36 | 0 | — | — | — | 36 | 0 | |||||
| Benfica | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Moreirense (loan) | 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 0 | |
| Famalicão | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 18 | 0 | |
| 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | |||
| Torreense (loan) | 2023–24 | Liga Portugal 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Gloria Buzău | 2024–25 | Liga I | 27 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 97 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 111 | 1 | ||
- Appearance in UEFA Champions League
International
- As of match played 10 September 2024[22]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | |||
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 5 | 0 | |
Honours
Benfica
- UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2016–17[23]