Clayton (footballer, born 1999)


Clayton Fernandes Silva, simply known as Clayton Silva or Clayton, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Primeira Liga club Rio Ave.

Club career

Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Clayton played amateur football before initially joining in January 2019. In March, however, after never signing a deal with the club, he moved to Lajeadense, and initially played for the under-20 side before making his first team debut later in the year.
On 19 December 2019, Clayton was presented at Juventude, after a partnership with Lajeadense was established. He appeared rarely before moving to Série D side Guarany de Sobral the following September, where he was a regular starter.
Ahead of the 2021 season, Clayton signed for Globo, and helped his side to win the Campeonato Potiguar by scoring ten goals. On 29 June of that year, he joined Vila Nova in the Série B.
Clayton featured regularly for Vila, and renewed his contract until 2024 on 18 February 2022. Just hours later, Série A side Coritiba announced his signing on a loan deal until December.
On 26 July 2022, Clayton moved abroad for the first time in his career, after signing a one-year loan deal with Primeira Liga newcomers Casa Pia.
On March 7, 2024, he was signed by Vasco da Gama to play in Série A, with the contract valid until December 2028. Clayton had few opportunities in the regular team and months later was loaned to Rio Ave in the Primeira Liga.
After impressing on loan, scoring 18 goals in 37 matches for the Vila do Conde-based side, Clayton joined the club on a permanent deal, signing a contract until the summer of 2029 for a reported transfer fee of €3 million.

Honours

Globo
Individual