Back story

Ismaily Gonçalves dos Santos started his football career at his local club, Ivinhema FC, in mid-western Brazil, but like so many of his compatriots, saw Portugal as a stepping stone to European football and joined Estoril in the Lisbon suburbs aged just 19. 

A season there was followed by two at Olhanense in the Algarve where he made the step up to top-flight football. His performances convinced Braga to offer him a four-year deal in summer 2012, but barely six months later, he was on his way to Shakhtar Donetsk, the Ukrainian club where so many Brazilians, such as Brandao, Willian, Fernandinho and Douglas Costa, have first emerged on the European scene.

WATCH: Ismaily scores historic strike for LOSC

"I heard a lot about Shakhtar in Brazil," Ismaily explained after putting pen to paper in Ukraine. "They are regarded as an up-and-coming club. I also knew they had a lot of Brazilian players, but when I arrived here I was astonished and amazed by what I saw. This is a fantastic club."

Six league titles, five Ukrainian Cups, UEFA Champions League group stage games and a UEFA Europa League semi-final appearance in 2016 followed with the left-back even earning a call-up to the Brazil national squad in March 2018.

Style of play

"Normally I am a defender but I like to go forward too. I love to take part in my team's attacks," said Ismaily after joining Shakhtar aged 23. Nine years on, nothing has changed, as LOSC fans have already found out. 

Current campaign

The fact Ismaily has settled in so quickly in northern France is perhaps no surprise: he played for three seasons and made over 100 appearances for Paulo Fonseca at Shakhtar between 2016 and 2019.

A debut goal is a dream for any new player, but his strike after coming off the bench to earn a 1-1 draw at Nantes on Matchday 2 was extra special: it was LOSC's 5000th competitive goal, their 3205th in Ligue 1 Uber Eats. He made his first start in the 7-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Matchday 3, and retained his place for the defeat of Ajaccio on Matchday 4 — in which he teed up Jonathan Bamba's goal in a 3-1 victory, his second assist already — to help the 2020/21 French champions make solid start to the new campaign with seven points from their opening quartet of matches.

What you didn't know

While his mother was pregnant with him, Ismaily's parents watched the 1956 comedy 'Smiley', a film about a boy in Australia who tries to save up to buy a bicycle, and decided to name their son after the lead character.

What they said

"I'm very happy to join this big French club. I've heard a lot of good things about LOSC, its facilities and its fans." Ismaily after signing

"I was offered the chance to play for Ukraine. I do not see any problem. I'm passionate about Ukraine and I'm ready to defend its colours." Ismaily, who qualified to play internationally after five years in his adopted country

"This player perfectly embodies the qualities, experience and attitude that we're looking for to improve our squad." LOSC president Olivier Letang

>> STATS: Ismaily already putting smiles on LOSC faces