# David Tavares

David José Gomes Oliveira Tavares (born 18 March 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Liga I club Gloria Buzău. Born in Portugal, he plays for the Cape Verde national team.

## Club career
### Benfica

Born in Lisbon of Cape Verdean descent, Tavares finished his youth career with S.L. Benfica after arriving from neighbours Sporting CP at the age of 17. He made his senior debut with the former's reserves in the LigaPro, his first match being on 16 March 2019 when he came on an 89th-minute substitute in a 2–1 home win against F.C. Penafiel.
Tavares made the first of two competitive appearances with the first team on 17 September 2019, replacing Jota midway through the second half of an eventual 1–2 home loss to RB Leipzig in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. In September 2020, he joined Moreirense F.C. of the Primeira Liga in a season-long loan, playing his first game in the competition on 2 October in a 1–1 home draw with Boavista FC.
On 26 January 2021, Tavares was reinstated in the B side of his parent club, leaving Moreirense after allegedly falling out with manager Vasco Seabra.

### Famalicão

On 29 June 2021, Tavares signed a five-year contract with F.C. Famalicão. He suffered a serious injury in December that sidelined him for several months, while in service of the under-23 side to where he had been sent due to disciplinary problems.
Tavares joined second-tier S.C.U. Torreense on 31 August 2023, loaned for one season.

### Gloria Buzău

On 25 July 2024, Tavares agreed to a deal at FC Gloria Buzău in the Romanian Liga I.

## International career

Tavares represented Portugal at youth level. In March 2023, he was called to the Cape Verde national team for a double 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eswatini, but only made his debut on 12 June in a 0–0 friendly draw with Morocco.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 9 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Benfica B | 2018–19 | LigaPro | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 |
| Benfica B | 2019–20 | LigaPro | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Benfica B | 2020–21 | Liga Portugal 2 | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | 0 |
| Benfica B | Total | Total | 36 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 36 | 0 |
| Benfica | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Moreirense (loan) | 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Famalicão | 2021–22 | Primeira Liga | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| Famalicão | 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Famalicão | Total | Total | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 |
| Torreense (loan) | 2023–24 | Liga Portugal 2 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Gloria Buzău | 2024–25 | Liga I | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 1 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 93 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 107 | 1 |
* ↑ Appearance in UEFA Champions League

### International

    As of match played 10 September 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Cape Verde |
| Cape Verde | 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| Cape Verde | 2024 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 5 | 0 |

## Honours

Benfica
* UEFA Youth League runner-up: 2016–17