André Horta

André Filipe Luz Horta (born 7 November 1996) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Super League Greece club Olympiacos, on loan from Primeira Liga club Braga.

André Horta
Horta with Braga in 2019
Personal information
Full nameAndré Filipe Luz Horta[1]
Date of birth (1996-11-07) 7 November 1996 (age 27)[1]
Place of birthAlmada, Portugal[1]
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s)Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Olympiacos
(on loan from Braga)
Number5
Youth career
2004–2012Benfica
2012–2015Vitória Setúbal
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2014–2016Vitória Setúbal38(2)
2016–2018Benfica10(1)
2017–2018Braga (loan)22(1)
2018–2019Los Angeles FC15(0)
2019–Braga120(5)
2024–Olympiacos (loan)12(2)
International career
2014Portugal U184(1)
2014–2015Portugal U198(0)
2016Portugal U207(1)
2016–2018Portugal U219(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19:06, 19 May 2024 (UTC)

He made over 175 Primeira Liga appearances for Vitória de Setúbal, Benfica and Braga, winning a league and cup double with the second of those teams in 2017 as well as the Taça de Portugal and Taça da Liga with the third. He also played for a year at Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.

Club career

Vitória Setúbal

Born in Almada, Setúbal District, Horta spent eight years in S.L. Benfica's youth system, joining local Vitória F.C. at the age of 15.[3] In late 2014, whilst still a junior, he was promoted to the first team by manager Domingos Paciência.[4]

Horta made his first-team and Primeira Liga debut on 12 December 2014, playing the second 45 minutes of a 0–1 home loss against Boavista FC.[5] He finished his first full season with 32 games – 21 starts – and two goals, helping his team narrowly avoid relegation; his goals contributed to wins at C.F. Os Belenenses and C.D. Tondela in December 2015.[6][7]

Benfica

On 1 June 2016, Horta signed a five-year contract with defending champions Benfica.[8] He played his first competitive match on 7 August, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 victory over S.C. Braga in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.[9] Six days later, on his league debut, he scored his only goal of 14 appearances that campaign, concluding a 2–0 win at Tondela.[10]

Horta joined Braga on a season-long loan deal on 30 August 2017.[11] He scored once in 22 competitive matches during his tenure, wrapping up a 3–1 away defeat of Boavista on 3 January 2018.[12]

Los Angeles FC

Horta agreed to join Los Angeles FC on 27 March 2018, as their final Designated Player ahead of their inaugural season in Major League Soccer.[13] The deal was made effective on 23 June that year,[14] and he made his league debut on 27 July when he came on as a 77th-minute substitute for scorer Lee Nguyen against the LA Galaxy, his backpass nine minutes later resulting in Ola Kamara's 2–2 equaliser (final score).[15]

Braga

On 10 June 2019, Horta returned to Portugal and Braga on a five-year deal,[16] for a reported fee of $2.75 million and 50% of any future transfer.[17] In his first games back at the club in August, he scored his first European goals in each leg of a 7–3 aggregate defeat of Brøndby IF in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.[18][19] He made three appearances in the Taça da Liga for the eventual winners, scoring in the 2–1 group stage win over C.S. Marítimo.[20]

Horta played six games as Braga won the 2020–21 Taça de Portugal, coming off the bench in four of them including the 2–0 final victory against Benfica.[21] On 23 December, he and Abel Ruiz were sent off as the team's defence of the trophy ended with a 1–0 loss at neighbours F.C. Vizela in the last 16.[22]

In June 2022, Horta extended his contract to 2027, with a buyout clause of €30 million. The news was announced through a video of him conducting a performance of "The Show Must Go On" at Braga's Theatre Circo.[23]

On 20 January 2024, Horta was loaned to Super League Greece club Olympiacos F.C. until the end of the season, being reunited with his former Braga manager Carlos Carvalhal.[24][25] The deal included an optional buying clause, reported to be €6 million.[26]

International career

Horta earned 28 caps for Portugal across all youth levels, scoring five goals. He made his debut on 25 March 2014 in a friendly 4–2 win for the under-18 team against Belgium in Santarém, and scored his first goal in a 2–2 draw against the same opponents two days later.[27] While he never went to a major tournament, he scored in 2019 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification victories over Switzerland, Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina for his side in 2018.[28][29][30]

Personal life

Horta's older brother, Ricardo, is also a footballer. They played together at Benfica, Vitória de Setúbal and Braga.[31]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 May 2024[32]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup[a]League cup[b]ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vitória Setúbal2014–15Primeira Liga60002080
2015–16Primeira Liga3223010362
Total3823030442
Benfica2016–17Primeira Liga10110202[c]01[d]0161
Braga (loan)2017–18Primeira Liga22110205[e]0301
Los Angeles FC2018Major League Soccer11010120
2019Major League Soccer40000040
Total1501000160
Braga2019–20Primeira Liga25020215[e]1342
2020–21Primeira Liga21160008[e]0351
2021–22Primeira Liga281301010[e]01[f]0431
2022–23Primeira Liga32170407[g]0501
2023–24Primeira Liga14230206[c]0252
Total120521091360101876
Olympiacos (loan)2023–24Super League Greece12200009[h]0212
Career total217112701615202031412

Honours

Benfica

Braga

Olympiacos

References