Profile
Joelinton began his playing career back home in Brazil, at Sport Recife. After making his first-team debut in 2014, he was sold to German club Hoffenheim the following year, but then immediately loaned to Rapid Vienna. It was in Austria that he made much of the progress that has tempted Newcastle to make him their club-record signing at an eyebrow-raising £40m.
That two-year spell witnessed him develop from an erratic performer into a controlled and calculating presser in the mould of his compatriot at Liverpool, Roberto Firmino. A further year back at parent club Hoffenheim brought him a total of 11 goals in 35 games – he is yet to register double figures in a league season – and represented a continuation of Hoffenheim’s fine record of nurturing and making profits on talented Brazilians. Alongside Firmino, they have also developed Marseille centre-back Luiz Gustavo, who left Hoffenheim for Bayern Munich, and attacking midfielder Carlos Eduardo, who left for Rubin Kazan.