Who is Danilo? The Palmeiras midfielder that Arsenal are desperate to sign

Robin Bairner

• 23 Nov 2022 14:19 GMT
• 17 min read

Although Endrick is the Palmeiras player most firmly in the transfer spotlight, the 16-year-old will be beaten to a move to a big European club by midfielder Danilo.

The 21-year-old has caught the eye of several clubs in recent months, but it appears that it is Arsenal who are liable to sign the promising player.

Indeed, he has opened the door to such a move thanks to comments made to UOL Esporte.

MORE: Arsenal to compete with Barcelona for two midfielders

“I see myself mature enough to be able to play in any competition in the world, I’m ready,” he said. “I am ready because Palmeiras helped me a lot, from the base, with director Joao Paulo Sampaio, and I kept my mentality strong with the arrival of Abel (the Palmeiras manager).

“But I prefer not to get involved with these transfer issues. I told my manager to only talk to me if it’s the right thing. Then we sit down and talk to Palmeiras and decide what’s best for everyone.”

But a move looks likely for a player valued at €34 million by FootballTransfers – so just what might Arsenal be getting for their money?

What position does Danilo play?

Danilo is a central midfielder, who is well-rounded in style. He typically plays as a box-to-box player for Palmeiras but has shown himself to be proficient in playing many different midfield roles.

How good is Danilo?

Danilo rates well against central midfielders in Brazil’s Serie A, having finished the 2022 season among the leading third of players in his position.

He is a player who is most noted for his defensive positioning and has no clear weaknesses in his game. There is, however, room for improvement in many aspects of his play, although any club may see that has a bonus because he is already playing to an accomplished level.

Somewhat surprisingly, he has not represented Brazil at any level yet.

Which clubs want to sign Danilo?

Arsenal are leading the race to sign Danilo as things stand, having made an approach for him last summer. The Premier League outfit are not the only team credited with an interest.

According to ESPN, Monaco and Ajax are also interested in signing the player during the January transfer window.

When does Danilo’s contract expire?

Danilo’s deal with Palmeiras runs until 31 December, 2026.

How old is Danilo?

Danilo’s birthday is 29 April, 2001. He is 21 years old.

How tall is Danilo?

Danilo is 177cm or 5ft 8in tall.

What is Danilo’s Instagram?

Danilo’s Instagram can be found here. He has 858k followers as of November 2022.