Joao Gamboa

Joao Pedro da Costa Gamboa (born 31 August 1996) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for G.D. Estoril Praia.

Club Career

Born in Povoa de Varzim, Gamboa was on the books of local clubs Rio Ave F.C. and Varzim S.C. as a youth, also having a year with S.L. Benfica. In 2014 he made his senior debut with Varzim's reserve team in the Porto Football Association's first division, and a sole first-team appearance in the third tier on 23 March in a 0–1 home loss against F.C. Tirsense.

Later in 2014, Gamboa signed for S.C. Braga, still as a junior. He made his professional debut for the reserves in the Segunda Liga on 19 April 2015 as an 80th-minute substitute for Nuno Valente, in a 1–0 away victory over S.C. Olhanense. On 23 May, in the last Primeira Liga round of the season, he played his first competitive match for the main squad as they won 5–0 at home to Vitoria de Setubal; he featured the last 15 minutes in place of Eder.

Gamboa was a regular for Braga's reserves the following campaign, scoring his first goal on 17 February 2016 to win 2–1 at home to S.C. Farense. On 29 June that year, he signed a five-year contract at fellow top-flight club C.S. Maritimo with teammate Rodrigo Pinho also making the move; several other players had already transferred in the opposite direction.

On 21 October 2017, Gamboa scored his first goal in the top level to give Maritimo the lead at Setubal, who came back to win 3–1. He was also sent off twice that season in away fixtures against Big Three teams: a second yellow card in the 39th minute of a 3–1 defeat at Porto, and a straight red card the following 3 March in a 5–0 loss to Benfica.

Gamboa spent 2019–20 on loan at G.D. Chaves in division two. At its conclusion, he signed for two years at G.D. Estoril Praia in the same competition.