Biography
Who is Douglas Costa?
Early life and career
Douglas Costa de Souza was born in Sapucaia do Sul, Brazil, on September 14, 1990. He began his football path by joining the youth system of Grêmio at the age of 11. He made his senior debut for Grêmio at 18 in a match against Botafogo, where he also scored his first goal for the club. During his early time with Grêmio, he made numerous league appearances and gained valuable professional experience before moving abroad.
In January 2010, the young winger transferred to Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk for a reported fee of €6 million on a five-year contract. He quickly adapted to European football, making his debut in a UEFA Europa League fixture against Fulham and scoring his first league goal against Metalist Kharkiv. He finished his debut season in Ukraine with several goals, helping his new club secure the Premier League title.
Success in Ukraine
During his tenure with Shakhtar Donetsk, Douglas achieved significant success and collected multiple domestic trophies. In the 2010 to 2011 campaign, he played a crucial role as the club achieved a domestic treble by winning the Premier League, the Ukrainian Cup, and the Super Cup. His contributions included important goals and assists in both domestic fixtures and European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League against opponents like Braga and Roma.
He continued to perform well in subsequent seasons, adding more league titles and domestic cup victories to his record. He played under various tactical setups and gained extensive experience in elite continental matches. His performances in Ukraine eventually caught the attention of larger European clubs, paving the way for his next major career move to the German Bundesliga.
Move to Bayern Munich
In July 2015, Douglas joined German powerhouse Bayern Munich on a five-year contract for a transfer fee of €30 million. He received the number 11 shirt and made his competitive debut in the DFL-Supercup against VfL Wolfsburg. He scored his first Bundesliga goal in a match against Hamburger SV and quickly established himself as a key attacking threat under his managers, contributing numerous assists and goals across all competitions.
During his first stint with Bayern, he won consecutive league titles and secured a domestic double by scoring the winning penalty in the DFB-Pokal Final against Borussia Dortmund. Following his time in Germany, he also had loan spells and permanent stints with other prominent clubs like Juventus before returning to Bayern Munich on loan during the 2020 summer transfer window.
International career
Douglas has represented his home country at various international levels. After featuring for the Brazil national under-20 football team, he became a full international for the senior Brazil men's national football team starting in 2014. Wearing the national colors on the global stage, he took part in major international tournaments including the 2015 Copa América and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Throughout his international career, he has contributed his pace and technical skill on the wing for the national squad. His experiences playing in South American qualifiers and global tournaments have added to his extensive football resume alongside his club achievements across Brazil, Ukraine, Germany, and Italy.
Birthday and age
Douglas Costa was born on September 14, 1990, which makes Douglas 36 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Douglas shares the date with 37 other famous people.
Explore more
