Souza in 2026: Net Worth and Salary, Injury, Transfer Value, Nationality, and FAQs

Souza is one of the most exciting young Brazilian full backs in world football, and the January 2026 transfer window saw him take a major leap forward in his career. The Santos academy graduate completed his dream move to Tottenham Hotspur for around 13 million pounds on 22 January 2026 and immediately joined a young Spurs squad rebuilding under Thomas Frank. South American football expert Tim Vickery confirmed that the 19 year old left back is already on the radar of Carlo Ancelotti for the Brazil squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In this 2026 deep dive we look at his current life in north London, his earnings, his transfer value, his Brazilian nationality, the injury status across his early Premier League months, and all the questions fans keep typing into Google and AI search tools.

Souza Profile

Who is Souza?

Joao Victor de Souza Menezes, known professionally as Souza, is a 19 year old Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a left back for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. He is left footed, stands at around 1.78 metres tall and weighs approximately 67 kilograms. He is best known for his physical strength, his versatility on the touchline, his ability to both defend and attack and the kind of technical security on the ball that very few left backs his age possess. He is also a Brazil under 17 international who featured at the 2023 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Indonesia, helping his country reach the quarter finals.

He was born on 16 June 2006 in Maua, a city in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area of Brazil. He came through the Santos academy, the same famous youth setup that produced football icons like Pele, Neymar, Robinho and many other Brazilian legends. He made his senior Santos debut at the start of 2024 and quickly established himself as a regular during the 2025 Brazilian Serie A campaign, despite the difficult context of Santos fighting against relegation. Tottenham signed him in January 2026 in a move that fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing in the Premier League.

Souza Nationality

Souza is Brazilian by nationality. He was born in Maua, in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region, and has spent his entire football education in the Brazilian youth system. He represents Brazil at youth international level and was capped 12 times at under 17 level by the Canarinha, including five appearances at the 2023 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Indonesia where Brazil reached the quarter finals.

Heading into the 2026 calendar year, his name has been mentioned in conversations around the senior Brazil setup under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti. South American football expert Tim Vickery confirmed on Sky Sports that Souza is already on the Italian's radar for the Brazil squad at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home continental territory, which would be a remarkable jump for a 19 year old still in his first months of Premier League football. Whether he makes the final squad will depend on his adaptation at Tottenham and the depth of left back options Ancelotti chooses to take to the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Souza Career Journey

Souza started his football journey in futsal at Juventus-SP before moving to the Santos academy in 2016 at the age of 10. He spent eight years working through every age group of one of the most respected youth setups in world football. He made his senior Santos debut at the start of 2024 and gradually established himself as a regular during the 2025 Brazilian Serie A campaign, although his rise came in extremely difficult circumstances with Santos fighting a relegation battle that they only narrowly survived.

Despite the chaos around the club, his performances stood out. He scored his first professional goal on 26 October 2025, netting Santos's first in a 2 to 2 away draw against Botafogo. By the end of the 2025 Brazilian top flight season he had made 38 appearances for the club and established himself as one of the most exciting young left backs in South American football.

On 22 January 2026 Tottenham Hotspur completed the signing of Souza on a long term contract running until 31 December 2028 for a fee in the region of 15 million euros, which equated to roughly 13 million pounds. He was given the number 38 shirt. He made his Tottenham debut on 7 February 2026, coming on as a substitute in the 2 to 0 away loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford. He made his first start for the club on 5 March 2026 against Crystal Palace and has since featured for both Tottenham and the Brazil setup as he continues to adapt to Premier League football.

Souza Net Worth and Salary in 2026

Icon Polls estimates that Souza's net worth in 2026 sits between 8 million and 12 million US dollars. That figure reflects his very young age, his Santos academy contract earnings between 2016 and 2024, his senior Santos wages during the 2024 and 2025 Brazilian Serie A campaigns, the financial benefit of the 15 million euro Tottenham move in January 2026 that came with significant signing on fees and a long term contract, his image rights deals as a young Brazilian Premier League player, his Brazil youth international match fees and the early stage property and investment portfolio he has been able to build.

On the salary side, his exact Tottenham wage has not been officially published, but he is widely understood to be on the kind of Premier League young defender terms reflecting the 13 million pound fee and his long term contract running until December 2028. His earning power will keep rising significantly over the next few years as he continues to develop, particularly if he forces his way into the Brazil senior squad for the 2026 World Cup and beyond.

Souza Transfer Value

Souza's transfer value has been one of the most discussed data points in modern Brazilian football. He arrived at Tottenham in January 2026 for 15 million euros, which is around 13 million pounds, after Santos and Spurs reached agreement earlier that month. The deal was completed quickly given the urgency around Tottenham's need for left back depth, with Destiny Udogie needing a specialist back up and Djed Spence having previously filled in on the left despite being right footed.

His current market value sits in the region of 11.4 million euros according to most databases, although that figure is likely to rise significantly if he produces a strong adaptation to Premier League football and earns Brazil senior selections. South American football expert Tim Vickery described him as very impressive, noting his physical strength, his versatility on the touchline and his ability to attack and defend in equal measure. Vickery also highlighted that surviving relegation with Santos in such demanding circumstances speaks volumes about his mentality. Icon Polls considers his next 18 months at Spurs as the single most important factor in his future transfer value.

Souza Injury Update

Souza has been remarkably durable across his short career so far, which is one of the reasons Tottenham have been so comfortable trusting him with senior Premier League minutes at the age of just 19. He has avoided any major injuries or long term layoffs and his physical resilience is one of the reasons he has been able to step into the demanding Premier League environment so quickly.

Since arriving at Tottenham in January 2026 he has dealt only with the kind of minor knocks consistent with the demands of Premier League football. Tottenham have managed his minutes carefully given his age and his recent adaptation, but his ability to stay fit through the second half of the 2025/26 season has been one of the most encouraging parts of his breakthrough. Icon Polls considers his durability one of the most underrated parts of his profile as Carlo Ancelotti weighs up his Brazil senior squad selections for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Frequently Asked Questions About Souza

1. How old is Souza in 2026?

He is 19 years old in 2026. He was born on 16 June 2006 and will turn 20 in June 2026.

2. Where was Souza born?

He was born in Maua, a city in the Sao Paulo metropolitan area of Brazil, on 16 June 2006.

3. What is Souza's full name?

His full name is Joao Victor de Souza Menezes. He is known professionally as Souza.

4. What is Souza's nationality?

He is Brazilian. He has represented Brazil at under 17 level and is being considered by Carlo Ancelotti for the senior Selecao squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

5. What position does Souza play?

He plays as a left back. He is known for his physical strength, his versatility and his ability to attack and defend in equal measure.

6. Which club does Souza play for?

He plays for Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League. He joined the club on 22 January 2026 from Santos.

7. What is Souza's shirt number?

He wears the number 38 shirt at Tottenham.

8. How tall is Souza?

He stands at around 5 feet 10 inches tall, which is roughly 1.78 metres. He weighs approximately 67 kilograms.

9. Is Souza left footed or right footed?

He is left footed, which is one of the reasons he is so comfortable in his natural left back position.

10. What is Souza's net worth in 2026?

Icon Polls estimates his net worth is between 8 million and 12 million US dollars in 2026.

11. How much does Souza earn at Tottenham?

His exact Tottenham wage has not been officially published, but he is on the kind of Premier League young defender terms you would expect for a 19 year old signed for 13 million pounds on a long term contract until December 2028.

12. How much did Tottenham pay for Souza?

Tottenham signed him from Santos on 22 January 2026 for a fee in the region of 15 million euros, which equated to roughly 13 million pounds.

13. What is Souza's transfer value?

His current market value sits in the region of 11.4 million euros according to most databases, although that figure is likely to rise significantly if he continues to develop at Tottenham and earns Brazil senior selections.

14. When did Souza make his Tottenham debut?

He made his Tottenham debut on 7 February 2026, coming on as a substitute in the 2 to 0 away loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

15. When did Souza make his first Tottenham start?

He made his first start for Tottenham on 5 March 2026 against Crystal Palace.

16. When does Souza's Tottenham contract expire?

His Tottenham contract runs until 31 December 2028.

17. Did Souza play for Santos?

Yes. He came through the Santos academy from 2016 and made his senior debut at the start of 2024. He made 38 appearances for the famous Brazilian club before joining Tottenham in January 2026.

18. Did Souza play at the Under 17 World Cup?

Yes. He was named in the Brazil under 17 squad for the 2023 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Indonesia and made five appearances as Brazil reached the quarter finals.

19. Will Souza play at the 2026 World Cup?

He is being considered by Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti for the senior Selecao squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Whether he makes the final squad will depend on his Tottenham adaptation and the depth of left back options.

20. Is Souza injured?

He has been remarkably durable across his short career and has avoided any major injuries. He has dealt only with minor knocks consistent with the demands of Premier League football since arriving in January 2026.

21. Is Souza married?

There is no public confirmation of a marriage. At 19 years old he is in the very early stages of his career and has kept his personal life entirely out of the public spotlight.

22. What religion does Souza practise?

He is a Christian, which is consistent with the dominant religious tradition in Brazil where the majority of the population is either Catholic or Protestant.

23. Did Souza play futsal?

Yes. He started his football journey playing futsal at Juventus-SP in Brazil before joining the Santos academy in 2016. Futsal is famous for shaping the technical ability of many Brazilian football stars.

24. Who is Souza's Brazilian team mate at Tottenham?

He has joined fellow Brazilian Richarlison at Tottenham. The presence of an experienced senior compatriot has been seen as a key factor in helping him settle into his new club and life in London.

Souza's story is one of patience, talent and a dream coming true. From a kid in Maua playing futsal at Juventus-SP, to a Santos academy graduate, to a senior Santos regular fighting alongside the club to avoid relegation in his maiden top flight season, to a 13 million pound Tottenham signing at the age of just 19, his journey so far is one of the most inspiring among the current generation of young Brazilian full backs.

With his Tottenham contract running until December 2028, his first Premier League start already behind him, and Carlo Ancelotti reportedly tracking him for Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad, Icon Polls will continue to follow the next chapters of one of the most exciting young left backs in world football. The next 12 months will be huge for him both at club and international level.