Sporting CP corner flag
Image credit: Getty Images
Portuguese goalkeeper Joao Virgínia has described his move to Arsenal as a “dream” that helped shape his career, as he prepares for a new chapter following his departure from Everton. In an exclusive interview withThe Standard, the 25-year-old opened up about his formative years in North London and offered insight into what could be an “interesting” next step in his journey, with clubs across Europe expressing interest.
Virgínia joined Arsenal’s academy from Benfica in 2015 at just 16 years old, embarking on what he now calls a life-changing experience. “Being a young lad from Portugal and joining one of the biggest clubs in the world was a dream,” he said. “I was really over the moon about everything, the project, the players I was going to be training with.”
Settling into life in England, Virgínia shared accommodation, or “digs,” with fellow Arsenal academy talent Eddie Nketiah, later joined by Nathan Tella. The trio formed a close bond, even sneaking Domino’s pizza behind their host family’s back. “Two for Tuesdays were a ritual,” he joked, recalling the camaraderie that made adapting to a new country easier.
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At Arsenal, Virgínia trained regularly with the first team, sharing pitches with stars like Alexis Sánchez, Mesut Ozil, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. He particularly cherished his time with Petr Čech, who joined Arsenal the same summer. “Petr is very enthusiastic about football. He loves goalkeeping and was very helpful especially to me, because I was so young,” he said.
Joao Virginia - Arsenal
Former Arsenal youth goalkeeper Joao Virginia (Image credit: Getty Images)
Guided by current Arsenal lead physical performance coach Sam Wilson, Virgínia gained 10 kilograms of muscle in his first year without compromising his agility, a testament to the Gunners’ top-tier development system.
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After three years at Arsenal, Virgínia moved to Everton in 2018. Despite serving primarily as understudy to England No. 1 Jordan Pickford, he made eight first-team appearances, including a Premier League debut in 2021. He also had loan spells with Reading, Sporting CP, and SC Cambuur. However, limited playing time eventually led to his departure when his contract expired in June 2025.
“I felt like I gave everything at Everton and it was time to find a new adventure, and hopefully play more,” he said.
Now training in his hometown of Faro in Portugal’s Algarve region, Virgínia is weighing up offers from clubs in the Premier League, Championship, Portugal, and Spain, including potential interest from former club Benfica. While he remains open to returning to his home country or trying something new, England remains a strong option.
“There’s a big chance that I might stay in England, which would be great,” Virgínia noted. “But the most important thing is finding the right environment to grow as a goalkeeper.”
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