Who is Joao Palhinha? Inside the life of Tottenham Hotspur’s midfield destroyer
Joao Palhinha is a professional football player who plays as a holding midfielder for Tottenham Hotspur.
Joao Palhinha is a traditional number six who has earned a reputation as a midfielder with an eye for a tackle, often mopping up and shielding the back four.
Now 30 years old, the Portuguese joined Tottenham ahead of the 2025–26 season as Thomas Frank’s fourth signing of the summer window, coming right after deals for Mathys Tel, Mohammed Kudus and Kota Takai.
A player who has established himself in Europe, with stints in Portugal, Germany and England, here is a closer look into the life and career of Tottenham’s midfield loan signing – Joao Palhinha.
Who is Joao Palhinha? Tottenham’s new midfield anchor
Joao Maria Lobo Alves Palhares Costa Palhinha Goncalves was born on 9 July 1995 in Lisbon, Portugal. Now 30 years old, he stands at 1.90 metres (6 ft 3 in) tall – an imposing physical presence that fits the profile of a combative holding midfielder.
Palhinha came through the Sporting CP youth academy after joining in 2012 at the age of 17. He got his first taste of senior football with the club’s B team, eventually opening his account with a powerful header in a 3–1 win over Leixoes in April 2015. His rise through the ranks was steady, though not without obstacles.
Loan spells followed at Moreirense and Belenenses, where he scored his first Primeira Liga goal in a draw against Vitoria de Guimaraes. A return to Sporting in 2017 saw him debut competitively for the first team, later bagging a brace in the Portuguese Cup.
His career then took a defining step when he joined Braga on loan, going on to feature 76 times and playing a crucial role in their 2019–20 Taca da Liga triumph, including a historic winner over Benfica.
Spurs midfielder Joao Palhinha – the journey to North London
By 2020, Palhinha was ready for a fresh challenge, though Sporting initially looked to move him on. A failed transfer to Al Nassr or CSKA Moscow meant he stayed put, reintegrated by then-manager Ruben Amorim.
He quickly nailed down a starting role, bossing the midfield with grit and precision. A controversial suspension ahead of the Lisbon derby sparked a legal saga, but he ended the season as the league’s top tackler with 185 tackles, played a key part in Sporting’s title win, and was named in the Primeira Liga Team of the Year alongside five of his teammates.
Fulham impact and Premier League dominance
Palhinha’s emergence as one of Europe’s finest ball-winners continued into 2021–22, although competition from Manuel Ugarte and repeated injury setbacks slowed him down. Still, he remained a core figure, leaving Sporting with a league title, two League Cups and a Super Cup to his name.
A £20 million switch to Fulham in 2022 saw him earn make his Premier League debut against Liverpool in a 2-2 draw. The Portuguese man later went on to score his first goal 14 days after joining the Cottagers in a clash against Brentford.
In his debut season, he led the league in tackles and was voted Player of the Season for Fulham. He was then linked with a late move to Bayern Munich, which fell through in 2023 because Fulham could not find a replacement for the holding midfielder.
Regardless, Palhinha remained professional, signed a new contract, and topped the tackling charts again in the Premier League.
Joao Palhinha joins Tottenham Hotspur
A year after the failed switch, Palhinha eventually made the move to Bayern Munich in 2024 for €56 million (£47.4 million).
He won the Bundesliga in his first season, although injuries and competition from Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic limited his minutes, with the Portuguese managing just 667 minutes in the Bundesliga.
He arrived at Tottenham on loan with an option to buy for €30 million. He becomes the latest 30+-year-old to join the club, since Ivan Perisic joined on a free transfer in 2022.
Playing style and what Spurs fans can expect
With the 30-year-old now in north London, Tottenham Hotspur fans can expect a proper number six who has an eye for a tackle and is ready to do the dirty work.
Palhinha is known for his positioning, stamina and hard-hitting tackles. Standing tall and strong, he thrives in duels – both on the ground and in the air – and plays a key role in breaking up play before launching forward balls into space. His vocal leadership and physicality make him a commanding figure in the middle of the park.
During his spell at Fulham, he averaged 81.5% pass accuracy and regularly topped the charts for tackles and duels won. His aggressive tackling style earned him a reputation, but also saw him booked frequently – he was one of only three players to receive 13 or more yellow cards in two separate Premier League seasons.
Personal life – family, relationships and off-field profile
Off the pitch, Palhinha was previously married to singer Patricia Palhares, with whom he shares a son, Joao Maria. The pair separated in 2024, while expecting their second child.
Joao Palhinha’s international career
On the international stage, Palhinha has represented Portugal at the under-18, under-19 and under-20 levels, notably featuring in the 2014 UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where his side finished runners-up.
He earned his senior debut in March 2021 during the World Cup qualifiers, scoring his first goal shortly after. Palhinha has since played in major tournaments – including Euro 2020, the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024 – making multiple appearances in each.
In 2025, he was part of the Portugal squad that won the UEFA Nations League, playing in the semi-final win over hosts Germany.
Spurs new midfielder Joao Palhinha – stats, honours and role
Joao Palhinha has carved out an impressive CV. Across his career up to the end of the 2024/25 season, he has featured in:
- 311 matches as a defensive midfielder, scoring 23 goals and providing 5 assists
- 2 matches as a centre-back
Club appearances and goals:
- Sporting CP: 95 appearances, 7 goals
- Fulham: 79 appearances, 8 goals, 1 assist
- Braga: 76 appearances, 6 goals, 3 assists
- Moreirense: 29 appearances
- Bayern Munich: 25 appearances
- Sporting B: 21 appearances, 1 goal
- Belenenses: 18 appearances, 1 goal, 1 assist
Palhinha’s honours include:
- Braga – Taça da Liga (2019–20)
- Sporting CP – Primeira Liga (2020–21), Taça da Liga (2020–21, 2021–22), Supertaça Candido de Oliveira (2021)
- Bayern Munich – Bundesliga (2024–25)
- Portugal – UEFA Nations League (2024–25)
- Individual – Primeira Liga Team of the Year (2020–21), Fulham Player of the Season (2022–23)
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