Get to know our latest arrival Luis Hemir Silva Semedo who has completed a permanent move from Benfica.
At the tender age of 19, Semedo arrives on Wearside with an illustrious background having played in an elite environment in his native Portugal with Benfica. A tall striker who possesses an eye for goal, Semedo’s skill and power offers an exciting future who has decided his future lies with the Lads.
Semedo showed his promise in the Benfica youth ranks scoring in 21 goals in 44 appearances for the club’s youth sides across three seasons.
The six-foot three-inch forward played a prominent role for Benfica Under-19’s who won the UEFA Youth League in the 2022-23 season. The trophy was won at the Colovray Sports Centre in Switzerland with a 6-0 win over Salzburg Under-19’s in the final. Semedo played his part in the scoring spree notching the final goal of the game and finishing the tournament on five goals.
It was the turn of Benfica Under-20’s to benefit from Semedo’s growing talent as his status grew in the youth ranks. The striker scored the only goal of a 1-0 win in their Under-20 Intercontinental Cup final win over Penarol adding another early winner’s medal to his growing collection.
Semedo has also featured for the national teams youth ranks obtaining caps for Portugal’s Under-19’s and Under-20’s.
The striker continued to progress and was included in the Benfica B squad last season, who participate in the second tier of Portuguese football. Baring the number 90 on the back of his shirt, he featured 18 times, starting in six of those games and scoring two goals for a side that finished 15th in the table.
While it has been a fruitful spell of development with Benfica, Semedo bids an emotional farewell to embark on a new chapter in the Sky Bet Championship to bolster Tony Mowbray’s attacking options for the forthcoming season. The Club’s emphasis on blooding youth through the heart of the team holds the promise of an exciting future for both the player and the team.
Semedo is expected to link up with the first-team squad for pre-season training when the Lads make their return to the Academy of Light on 26 June.