Helder Costa

Helder Wander Sousa de Azevedo e Costa (born 12 January 1994) is an Angolan professional footballer who plays as a winger for Leeds United. Initially representing Portugal at youth and senior level, in 2021 he opted to represent the Angola national team.

Formed at Benfica, with which he made a single Taca da Liga appearance, Costa spent most of his career abroad, including at Deportivo de La Coruna in La Liga and Monaco in Ligue 1. He also spent several years in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United, winning the EFL Championship with both.

Costa represented Portugal from under-16 all the way through to the senior side, for whom he scored on his only appearance in 2018. In 2021, he scored on his debut for Angola.

Club Career

Benfica

On 11 August 2012, Costa made his professional debut with Benfica B in a 2012–13 Segunda Liga match against Braga B where he played 72 minutes as a winger.

His first professional goal came on 23 August 2013, in a 3–0 home win over Portimonense, one of eight that season including on 23 November in a 4–3 triumph against Oliveirense in which he was also sent off.

On 25 January 2014, Costa debuted with Benfica in a 2013–14 Taca da Liga third round match against Gil Vicente, playing the final 13 minutes of the 1–0 win at the Estadio da Luz as a substitute for Miralem Sulejmani. He played no further part in the tournament, which Benfica went on to win. On 5 November 2014, he scored a hat-trick in the Segunda Liga with Benfica B against Olhanense in a 5–1 home win.

Costa came through the Benfica academy in the same age group as fellow future Portugal internationals Ivan Cavaleiro and Bernardo Silva.

Deportivo (loan)

On 19 January 2015, Costa was loaned to La Liga's Deportivo de La Coruna until the end of the season.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Элдер Кошта (russian)