Ederson Santana de Moraes - biography, statistics, age, weight, height

Biography of Ederson Santana de Moraes

Sometimes a goalkeeper just stands in the goal. And sometimes he changes the perception of what a goalkeeper should be. Ederson belongs to the second category.

Early Years in Brazil

Ederson Santana de Moraes was born on 17 August 1993 in Osasco, São Paulo. He began his football journey at the São Paulo academy in 2008, but did not manage to establish himself there. As a teenager, he moved to Europe – joining Benfica's system. However, things did not go smoothly at first: after two years in the youth teams, he was released.

He did not disappear. He joined Ribeirão (Portugal’s second division), and then Rio Ave. That is where his real development began.

Breakthrough in Portugal

At Rio Ave, Ederson gradually became the first-choice goalkeeper. A series of confident performances attracted Benfica’s attention, and in 2015 he returned to Lisbon. Initially, he was a substitute. Then came the derby against Sporting and the opportunity he seized. After Júlio César's injury, Ederson secured the starting position and helped Benfica win the Portuguese league.

In the 2016/17 season, he became the undisputed first choice and completed the domestic treble: league, Portuguese Cup, and Super Cup.

The Manchester City Era

In 2017, Manchester City paid £35 million for him – at the time, one of the most expensive transfers for a goalkeeper in history. Under Pep Guardiola, he immediately became the first-choice, displacing Claudio Bravo.

Over eight seasons in England, Ederson played 372 matches and won:

• 6 Premier League titles
• 2 FA Cups
• 4 League Cups
• Champions League (2023) – part of the historic treble

He won the Premier League Golden Glove three times in a row (2020–2022), and in 2024 received the FIFA The Best award as the world’s best goalkeeper.

New Chapter – Fenerbahçe

In September 2025, Ederson unexpectedly moved from England to Turkey, signing with Fenerbahçe.

He debuted in a victorious match against Trabzonspor and by January 2026 won his first trophy with the club – the Turkish Super Cup, at the same stadium where he had previously won the Champions League with City.

Brazil National Team

Ederson debuted for the national team in 2017.

His achievements include:

• Participation in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups
• Victory in the 2019 Copa América
• Reaching the 2021 Copa América final

He long competed with Alisson but established himself as one of the two main goalkeepers for the country.

Style of Play

Ederson is not just a goalkeeper.

• He plays exceptionally with his feet
• He initiates attacks with long passes
• Acts as a "sweeper-keeper"
• Remains calm under pressure

He is called a "playmaker in gloves," and this is no exaggeration. Ederson is a rare example of a goalkeeper who became a key figure in the era of positional football. He does not just save shots – he starts the game.

Personal life of Ederson Santana de Moraes

Off the field, Ederson is far from a cold save machine. At home, he is a family man, a person of faith, and a living tattoo canvas.

He met his wife Lais in 2013 while playing for Rio Ave in Portugal. It wasn’t love at first sight, as Lais later admitted, but the romance developed quickly, and a year later they married. He was 21, she was 20.

Lais has been by his side throughout his career: Lisbon → Manchester → Istanbul.

They have three children:

• Son: Henrique
• Daughters: Yazmin and Laura

Plus four dogs. Their home is always lively.

Lais is active on social media and has become a public figure in her own right, but remains her husband’s biggest supporter.

Ederson openly speaks about his Christian faith. He has a tattoo saying "I belong to Jesus" and credits his faith with helping him manage pressure and responsibility.

His body is almost entirely covered with tattoos, including:

• Rose and skull on the neck
• Angel wings on the back
• Images of trophies won with Benfica
• Religious symbols

It’s not just style – it’s a biography in ink.

In 2016, Ederson obtained Portuguese citizenship, easing his status in Europe, but he continues to play for Brazil internationally.

Off the pitch, Ederson is calm, family-oriented, and down-to-earth. No unnecessary glamour. Just home, kids, faith, and football.

Interesting facts about Ederson Santana de Moraes

• Debut in a fiery match: His first match for Benfica in the Portuguese league was in the Lisbon derby against Sporting. He kept a clean sheet and Benfica won 1:0 – after which the team never relinquished first place. Few goalkeepers start their careers like that.
• He "benchmarked" a legend: After a series of confident matches, the coach kept Ederson as the starter even when veteran Júlio César recovered. The decision was risky but paid off – Benfica won the championship. The young keeper effectively replaced a Brazilian fan favorite.
• Goalkeeper-playmaker: Ederson is one of the first modern goalkeepers whose passes became a true weapon. In 2018, he became the first Manchester City goalkeeper to record an assist in the Premier League. His goal kicks regularly turn into attacks. Former goalkeeper Shay Given called him "the best in the world with his feet." He doesn’t just start attacks – he constructs them.
• Incredible composure: His trademark is absolute calm. He can receive the ball under heavy pressure and calmly beat an attacker. Sometimes it looks reckless; sometimes genius.
• Scars as part of the image: In 2017, in a match against Liverpool, Sadio Mané kicked him in the face. Ederson received eight stitches but returned to the field a week later wearing a protective mask.
• Goalkeeper of historic treble: In 2022/23 he was part of the Manchester City team that won the treble: Premier League, FA Cup, Champions League. In the CL, he made 22 saves – the best in the season.
• Three consecutive Golden Gloves: From 2020 to 2022 he became the Premier League’s best goalkeeper for three consecutive seasons. Consistency is his middle name.
• Stadium symbolism: In 2023 he won the Champions League final at Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. In 2026, already with Fenerbahçe, he won the Turkish Super Cup at the same stadium – two trophies at one stadium with different clubs and different stages of life.
• Considered Brazil’s future: Brazilian legend Cláudio Taffarel once said at Benfica: "He has a huge future." He was right – Ederson became one of the leading goalkeepers of his generation.
• Not perfect – and that’s his strength: Despite elite status, Ederson has made mistakes due to overconfidence in ball distribution. But this willingness to take risks makes him unique. He plays goalkeeper as if he grew up as a midfielder.

Ederson Santana de Moraes statistics

Scandals with Ederson Santana de Moraes

Throughout his career, Ederson Santana de Moraes has had several situations linked to controversial events and media scandals, although there were no serious criminal or disciplinary cases involving him.

During the 2025 transfer window, a wave of rumors emerged about a possible move from Manchester City to Saudi clubs, which Ederson publicly called "99% fake news" and criticized the media for presenting unverified stories as scandalous facts.

Earlier, his wife expressed dissatisfaction on social media regarding false rumors about tension between him and teammate Stefan Ortega, which the goalkeeper also denied.

In one Premier League match, he attracted attention after an emotional reaction to an injury and substitution, kicking a bottle in anger, which media interpreted as frustration. Additionally, some fans criticized his performances in certain matches, for example after City's elimination from the Club World Cup, drawing negative media attention.

In 2021, following a defeat in an important Champions League match, Ederson was involved in a heated social media exchange with fans, for which he later apologized, emphasizing that emotions got the better of him. This incident caused brief media discussion but did not affect his playing career.

In Turkey, during the first months after joining Fenerbahçe, journalists criticized him for some mistakes in Super League matches, creating minor media buzz. However, the goalkeeper remained calm and continued to perform at a high level, earning the trust of coaches and fans.