Metinho
Abemly Meto Silu (born 23 April 2003), known as Metinho, is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Swiss Super League club Basel on loan from Ligue 2 club Troyes. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he holds both Congolese and Brazilian citizenship.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Abemly Meto Silu | ||
| Date of birth | 23 April 2003 | ||
| Place of birth | Matadi, DR Congo | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Basel | ||
| Number | 5 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2014 | Madureira | ||
| 2015–2021 | Fluminense | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021 | Fluminense | 1 | (0) |
| 2021– | Troyes B | 8 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | → Lommel (loan) | 26 | (4) |
| 2023–2025 | → Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 36 | (2) |
| 2023 | → Jong Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2025 | → Basel (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2025– | Basel | 22 | (3) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 March 2026 | |||
Abemly Meto Silu (born 23 April 2003), known as Metinho, is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Swiss Super League club Basel on loan from Ligue 2 club Troyes. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he holds both Congolese and Brazilian citizenship.
Early life
[edit]Metinho was born in Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, but moved to Brazil aged one, after his father, Abel, fled the country following religious persecution.[1][2] After settling in the Cinco Bocas favela in Brás de Pina, a neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Abel came up with the name "Metinho" for his son, taking the diminutive form of his real name, Meto - a common tradition in Brazil.[3]
Club career
[edit]Metinho progressed through the youth sides of Madureira before going on trial with Vasco da Gama. He was offered a contract, but changed his mind before finalising the deal, determined that he would wait for Fluminense to make an offer.[3] He joined the Tricolor, and moved from the favela into a house owned by then-teammate João Pedro.[3] Metinho would go on to captain the under-17 team of Fluminense and play for the club's under-20 side.[2][4] In 2020, he was included in The Guardian's "Next Generation 2020".[5][6] In March 2021, Metinho made his professional debut, coming on as a substitute for Rafael Ribeiro in a 3–0 loss to Portuguesa-RJ.[citation needed]
On 15 June 2021, Fluminense confirmed that Metinho had been released by the club in order to "introduce himself to his new club in Europe".[7] On 23 July, this was confirmed to be Ligue 1 side Troyes, with which he signed a five-year contract for a reported fee of €5 million plus bonuses.[8] On 2 July 2022, Metinho moved to Belgian club Lommel on loan for the 2022–23 season.[9]
On 31 August 2023, Metinho joined Sparta Rotterdam in the Netherlands on loan.[10] The loan was extended for the 2024–25 season.[11]
On 27 January 2025, Metinho moved on a new loan to Basel in Switzerland.[12]
International career
[edit]Metinho became a naturalized Brazilian citizen in 2019.[13][14] In November 2020, despite not having represented Brazil at any youth level, Metinho was called up to train with the senior squad, alongside teammate Luiz Henrique.[2][15][16] He remains eligible to represent the country of his birth, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Honours
[edit]Basel
Career statistics
[edit]- As of match played 18 December 2024[18]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Fluminense | 2021 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Troyes B | 2021–22 | Championnat National 3 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | |||
| Lommel (loan) | 2022–23 | Challenger Pro League | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 27 | 4 | |
| Jong Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 2023–24 | Tweede Divisie | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Sparta Rotterdam (loan) | 2023–24 | Eredivisie | 24 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 1[b] | 0 | 27 | 1 | |
| 2024–25 | Eredivisie | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | ||
| Total | 36 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 41 | 1 | |||
| Career total | 70 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 77 | 6 | ||
- ^ Appearance in Campeonato Carioca
- ^ Appearance in European play-offs
References
[edit]- ^ "Nascido no Congo, Metinho alimenta sonho de servir à Seleção: 'Brasil me proporcionou muita coisa'" [Born in Congo, Metinho has a dream of serving the Seleção: 'Brazil has given me a lot']. cbf.com.br (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Metinho revela emoção do pai e de parentes no Congo por período com seleção brasileira: "Chegaram a chorar"" [Metinho reveals emotion of his father and relatives in Congo due to period with the Brazil national team: "They came to cry"]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ a b c "Conexão Congo-Xerém: a história e superação de Metinho Silu para brilhar na base do Fluminense" [Congo-Xerém connection: the history and overcoming of Metinho Silu to shine at Fluminense's youth setup]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 27 October 2019. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Com Arthur em foco e Metinho de capitão, Fluminense Sub-17 estreia nova geração de ouro no Brasileiro" [With Arthur in focus and Metinho as captain, Fluminense U-17 debut new generation of gold in the Brasileiro]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 10 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Next Generation 2020: 60 of the best young talents in world football". The Guardian. 8 October 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ "Metinho celebra presença entre os melhores Sub-17 do mundo: 'É fruto de muito trabalho e dedicação'" [Metinho celebrates presence among the best U-17 in the world: 'It is the result of hard work and dedication']. lance.com.br (in Portuguese). 9 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Fluminense confirm Man City to sign Brazilian teenager Metinho". Manchester Evening News. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
- ^ "Metinho officiellement Troyen !". ES Troyes AC (in French). 23 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
- ^ "Metinho tekent bij Lommel SK" (in Dutch). Lommel. 2 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "SPARTA HUURT METINHO VAN TROYES" [SPARTA LOANS METINHO FROM TROYES] (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "SPARTA HUURT METINHO OOK VOLGEND SEIZOEN VAN TROYES" [SPARTA WILL ALSO LOAN METINHO FROM TROYES NEXT SEASON] (in Dutch). Sparta Rotterdam. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Metinho leihweise zum FCB" [Metinho on loan to FCB] (in German). FC Basel. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
- ^ "Conheça Metinho Silu, a promessa da categoria sub-15 do Flu que nasceu no Congo" [Meet Metinho Silu, the prospect of Flu's under-15 category who was born in Congo]. globoesporte.globo.com (in Portuguese). 24 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Quem é Metinho, nascido no Congo que treinou com a seleção brasileira?" [Who is Metinho, born in Congo who trained with the Brazil national team?]. goal.com (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Dificuldades no Brasil e emoção da família: Metinho exalta experiência na Seleção" [Difficulties in Brazil and family emotion: Metinho praises experience in the Seleção]. lance.com.br (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Na primeira vez com a seleção, Metinho é alvo de matéria especial da CBF – joia tricolor esteve na concentração na preparação da seleção principal" [In the first time with the Seleção, Metinho is the target of special article from CBF - tricolor's pearl was in the concentration in the preparation of the full side]. onefootball.com (in Portuguese). 12 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Thousands celebrate the championship title in Basel during the ESC". blue News.
- ^ Metinho at Soccerway