Antony Bio
Antony Alves Santos, known simply as Antony, is a Brazilian professional footballer born on 8 September 2001 in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. Standing 1.78 meters tall, he plays as a winger and is recognized for his pace, dribbling, and ability to operate on either flank in the attacking line. Since 2023, he has been a member of the Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers, where he wears the number 11 shirt and continues to build a career that has taken him from southern Brazil through Portugal and on to North America.
Antony’s professional journey began in his late teens and has included spells with Brazilian sides Joinville and Corinthians, followed by a successful stint with Portuguese club Arouca. His transition to Major League Soccer marked a new chapter, and his contract with Portland Timbers runs through the end of the 2026 season. Known for his direct playing style and confidence on the ball, Antony has steadily added to his experience across multiple leagues and competitions.
Early Life and Background
Antony Alves Santos was born and raised in Curitiba, the capital of the southern Brazilian state of Paraná. Growing up in a region with a strong football culture, he was exposed to the sport at a young age and joined local youth setups in pursuit of a professional career. His early football education came through structured academy environments that emphasized technical development and tactical awareness.
As a young player, Antony spent time in the youth systems of Coritiba between 2012 and 2015, before moving to Associação Esportiva Renovicente from 2015 to 2017. These formative years allowed him to develop the foundational skills that would later define his style as a winger. The combination of academy training and competitive youth matches helped prepare him for the demands of senior professional football by the time he reached his late teens.
Path to Professional Football
Antony joined the youth ranks of Joinville in 2017, a club based in the state of Santa Catarina, and he continued to progress through their development pathway over the following years. His first taste of senior football arrived on 16 January 2019, when he came on as a second-half substitute for Rafael Grampola during a 1–1 Campeonato Catarinense away draw against Brusque. That appearance marked the start of his professional career at the age of 17.
In July 2019, after accumulating 11 first-team appearances for Joinville, Antony was sent on loan to Corinthians, where he was initially integrated into the under-20 setup. He made his senior debut for Corinthians on 3 March 2021, appearing in a 2–2 Campeonato Paulista tie against Palmeiras. After three first-team outings, he returned to Joinville in July 2021 when Corinthians chose not to exercise the buyout option, setting the stage for his first move abroad.
Antony Career
Early Career at Joinville (2019–2021)
Antony’s first sustained spell in senior football came at Joinville, the club where he had developed as a youth player. Between 2019 and 2021, he made 11 first-team appearances for the club in the Campeonato Catarinense, gradually earning trust from the coaching staff. The experience provided him with regular minutes against senior opposition and a clearer view of what was required to succeed at higher levels of the game.
During this period, Antony was also loaned to Corinthians, a move that gave him a brief but valuable taste of one of Brazil’s biggest clubs. Although his time in the senior squad was limited to three appearances, the exposure to a higher-pressure environment, including matches in the Campeonato Paulista, contributed to his growth as a player and prepared him for the transition to European football.
Arouca Breakthrough (2021–2023)
On 3 August 2021, Antony completed his first move abroad, joining Portuguese Primeira Liga side Arouca. The transfer represented a significant step up in his career, moving from regional Brazilian football to a top-flight European league. He had to wait several months for his opportunity, but his debut on 27 November 2021 proved memorable, as he came on as a substitute for Arsénio Nunes and scored a last-minute winner in a 2–1 home victory over Boavista.
That debut goal announced his arrival in Portugal and helped him secure more regular minutes in the Arouca squad. On 1 November 2022, the club confirmed that it had activated the buyout clause in his contract, with Antony signing a new deal that ran until 2026. The extension reflected the club’s confidence in his contributions and gave him stability to continue developing in European football.
Portland Timbers Era (2023–Present)
On 2 August 2023, Antony signed with Major League Soccer club Portland Timbers, agreeing to a contract that runs through the end of the 2026 season. The move gave him a platform in North American soccer and reunited him with the long-term security that Arouca had previously offered. Wearing the number 11 shirt, he slotted into the Timbers’ attacking options and was expected to add creativity and directness on the wings.
Since arriving in Major League Soccer, Antony has been a regular contributor in the squad, though his time in Portland has not been without off-field headlines. In May 2026, following a 1–3 home defeat, he drew criticism for his response on social media to a post by Timbers reporter Jeremy Peterman, an exchange that was repeated from a similar incident a week earlier and drew negative reactions from supporters. The episode added a public-relations chapter to his ongoing spell with the club.
Playing Style and Strengths
Antony is recognized for his pace, close control, and willingness to take on defenders in one-on-one situations, traits that suit the modern winger role. He is comfortable playing on either flank and is capable of delivering crosses, cutting inside onto his stronger foot, and arriving late in the box to finish scoring chances. His ability to make an immediate impact off the bench, as seen on his Arouca debut, has been a recurring feature of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Antony’s career came on 27 November 2021, when he scored a last-minute winner on his debut for Arouca against Boavista, instantly announcing himself in Portuguese football. His subsequent contract extension at Arouca in November 2022 and his high-profile move to Portland Timbers in August 2023 represent the key milestones of his professional journey to date.
Antony Career Highlights
Across his time at Joinville, Corinthians, Arouca, and Portland Timbers, Antony has built a résumé that includes senior appearances in the Campeonato Catarinense, the Campeonato Paulista, the Portuguese Primeira Liga, and Major League Soccer. His most celebrated contribution remains his debut goal for Arouca, while his progression from a Brazilian youth academy to a multi-year contract in Major League Soccer reflects a steady rise in his career trajectory.
Portuguese Primeira Liga Highlights
During his spell at Arouca between 2021 and 2023, Antony featured in the Portuguese top flight and established himself as a dependable attacking option. His debut goal against Boavista in November 2021 and the subsequent buyout activation by the club in November 2022 are the standout confirmed highlights of his time in Portugal.
Other Performances
Earlier in his career, Antony made senior appearances for Joinville in the Campeonato Catarinense and featured briefly for Corinthians in the Campeonato Paulista. These spells, while shorter, provided the platform for his move to European football and his later arrival in Major League Soccer with Portland Timbers.
Antony Family
Personal Life
Public information about Antony’s personal life is limited, and details about his parents, spouse, or children are not confirmed in the available verified sources. He was born in Curitiba, Paraná, and his footballing path has taken him through several clubs in Brazil, Portugal, and the United States, where he currently represents the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.
2025 Season Outlook
Heading into the 2025 Major League Soccer campaign, Antony remained under contract with the Portland Timbers, whose agreement with him runs through the end of 2026. His role within the squad was expected to focus on providing width, creativity, and goal contributions from the wing positions, with the club looking to build a competitive season around its established attacking options.
Throughout the 2025 season, Antony was positioned as part of the Timbers’ attacking rotation, with the expectation that his experience in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and prior senior appearances in Brazil would help him contribute consistent performances. The club’s longer-term plan centered on integrating his skill set into a broader tactical framework aimed at challenging for playoff positions.
With his contract extension keeping him tied to Portland through 2026, the outlook for Antony and the Timbers pointed toward continuity and the chance to refine his role within Major League Soccer. His development curve, from a Brazilian youth prospect to a senior professional across three countries, suggested that he would continue to be a notable attacking presence for the club in the seasons ahead.
