Diego Carlos is an Aston Villa player!
The Brazilian will sport the claret and blue after leaving Sevilla to join Steven Gerrard’s side.
Carlos has built a stellar reputation in European football during his time with the La Liga side, and he’ll now test his abilities in the Premier League.
Here are five things to know about the new man…
1. Olympic Champion
The 29-year-old became an Olympic gold medallist after helping Brazil triumph at the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
Carlos was a mainstay of the team alongside fellow Villan Douglas Luiz as the Seleção progressed through the tournament unbeaten.
Brazil conceded only four times in six matches, beating Spain 2-1 after extra-time in the final.
2. Europa League Winner
Carlos got his hands on the Europa League trophy when Sevilla won the competition in 2020, beating Inter Milan 3-2.
After featuring in two of six group games, the defender came to the fore in the knockout rounds, playing all but four minutes of their run to the title.
He also showed his mental strength to overcome conceding a penalty in the final against Inter to have a big hand in their winning goal, producing a stunning overhead kick that was deflected in by Romelu Lukaku.
3. Top Four Record
After joining Sevilla from Nantes in 2019, Carlos helped the club finish fourth in La Liga in each of his three seasons at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
The Brazilian made 35 (19/20), 33 (20/21) and 34 (21/22) league appearances in his three campaigns in Spain, playing a big part in consecutive Champions League qualifications.
He started 101 of his 102 games in the Spanish top flight, chipping in with six goals.
4. Dominant Defence
Playing alongside centre-back partner Jules Kounde, Carlos enjoyed a standout season in 2021/22.
The Sao Paulo native contributed to Sevilla conceding the fewest goals in the league, with just 30 scored against them in 38 matches.
In Europe’s top five leagues, only Manchester City and Liverpool conceded fewer.
5. Flourishing in France
Before starring in Spain, Carlos made a name for himself at French side Nantes.
The Ligue 1 outfit provided the defender with a platform to grow after they paid approximately €2 million to prise him away from Portuguese team Estoril.
He made 108 appearances for Nantes during three seasons at the club, helping them achieve two top-half finishes in that time.
