Tiago Ilori

Tiago Abiola Delfim Almeida Ilori (born 26 February 1993) is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a centre-back for F.C. Pacos de Ferreira on loan from Sporting CP.

He started his career with Sporting, making his debut with the first team in 2011 before signing with Liverpool two years later. He spent three seasons in the English Championship with Reading after joining in January 2017, and also competed professionally in Spain and France.

Ilori earned 36 caps for Portugal at youth level, including ten with the under-21 team.

Club Career

Sporting CP

Born in Hampstead, London to a British father of Nigerian descent and a Portuguese mother, Ilori spent his childhood in the town of Albufeira in the Algarve, where he started playing football with local Imortal DC. He joined Sporting CP's youth ranks in the summer of 2006 as a striker, being loaned to Lisbon neighbours G.D. Estoril Praia at the age of 14 and returning for three more years already reconverted as a stopper.

Ilori made his official debut for the Lions' first team on 6 November 2011, featuring the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 Primeira Liga home win against U.D. Leiria. On 14 December he played his first game in the UEFA Europa League, starting in a 2–0 group stage loss to S.S. Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico as his team had already secured the first place in their group.

In only his fourth competitive appearance for Sporting, on 16 February 2013 at Gil Vicente FC, Ilori again played the entire match, and helped to a 3–2 victory by scoring the former's second goal in the sixth minute.

Liverpool

On 2 September 2013, Ilori was signed by Liverpool for an undisclosed fee, reported to be around £7 million. It was also announced that The Football Association were in talks with the player for him to switch nationality and represent England internationally.

This page also has a version in other languages :  Тиагу Илори (russian)