# Paulo Ricardo (footballer, born 1994)

Paulo Ricardo Ferreira (born 13 June 1994), known as Paulo Ricardo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for UAE Pro League club Al-Urooba. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a defensive midfielder.

## Club career

Born in Laguna, Santa Catarina, Paulo Ricardo joined Santos' youth system in 2012, aged 18, after stints with Atlético Catarinense, Brusque and Figueirense. At the latter he also suffered with recurrent back injuries which included a vertebral fracture.
On 21 March 2014 Paulo Ricardo signed a new deal with Peixe, running until 2017. He made his first team debut on 18 July, coming on as a late substitute in a 2–0 home success against Palmeiras for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A championship.
On 26 April 2015, after Werley's illness and Gustavo Henrique's injury, Paulo Ricardo was made a starter in 2015 Campeonato Paulista final against Palmeiras, but was sent off after committing a penalty in a 1–0 away loss. He appeared more regularly with the club during the campaign, being sometimes utilized as a defensive midfielder by manager Dorival Júnior.
On 7 July 2016, Paulo Ricardo was loaned to FC Sion for one year. He made his debut for the club on 10 August, starting in a 3–1 away loss against FC Lugano.
On 24 July 2017, Paulo Ricardo joined Sion permanently, with Santos receiving a compensation fee. On 8 August of the following year, he returned to his homeland after agreeing to a one-year loan deal with Fluminense.
In the summer of 2021, he moved to the Finnish club Kuopion Palloseura (KuPS) in the country's top-tier Veikkausliiga. During his time with KuPS, the club won two Finnish Cup titles, and finished twice as the Veikkausliiga runner-up, losing the title to HJK Helsinki with one point difference on both occasions.
On 22 January 2023, Ricardo joined Saudi club Al-Hazem for an undisclosed fee.
On 4 July 2024, Ricardo joined Al-Urooba.

## Career statistics

    As of 11 November 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | State League | State League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Santos | 2014 | Série A | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 |
| Santos | 2015 | Série A | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| Santos | 2016 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Santos | Total | Total | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 20 | 0 |
| Sion II (loan) | 2016–17 | Swiss Promotion League | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 0 |
| Sion | 2016–17 | Swiss Super League | 15 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 2 |
| Sion | 2017–18 | Swiss Super League | 17 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 0 |
| Sion | Total | Total | 32 | 2 | — | — | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 2 |
| Fluminense (loan) | 2018 | Série A | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Fluminense (loan) | 2019 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Fluminense (loan) | Total | Total | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 13 | 0 |
| Goiás (loan) | 2019 | Série A | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Figueirense | 2020 | Série B | 12 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 23 | 1 |
| Figueirense | 2021 | Série C | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 |
| Figueirense | Total | Total | 12 | 1 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 1 |
| KuPS | 2021 | Veikkausliiga | 13 | 2 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 14 | 2 |
| KuPS | 2022 | Veikkausliiga | 24 | 0 | – | – | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| KuPS | Total | Total | 37 | 2 | – | – | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 51 | 2 |
| Al-Hazem | 2022–23 | Saudi First Division | 17 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 17 | 0 |
| Al-Hazem | 2023–24 | Saudi Pro League | 27 | 3 | – | – | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 29 | 3 |
| Al-Hazem | Total | Total | 44 | 3 | – | – | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 46 | 3 |
| Al-Urooba | 2024–25 | UAE Pro League | 3 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 154 | 8 | 19 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 216 | 8 |
* ↑ Includes Copa do Brasil, Swiss Cup, Suomen Cup and Saudi King's Cup
* ↑ Includes Campeonato Paulista
* ↑ Includes UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
* ↑ Appearance(s) in Copa Verde
* 1 2 Includes Campeonato Catarinense
* 1 2 Includes UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Includes Finnish League Cup
* ↑ Includes UAE League Cup

## Honours
### Santos

* Campeonato Paulista: 2015
KuPS
* Veikkausliiga runner-up: 2021, 2022
* Finnish Cup: 2021, 2022
Al-Hazem
* Saudi First Division League runner-up: 2022–23
Individual
* Veikkausliiga Defender of the Year: 2022
* Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2022