Alfa Semedo

Alfa Semedo Esteves (born 30 August 1997) is a Bissau-Guinean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Saudi Arabian club Al-Fayha and the Guinea-Bissau national team.

Club career Born in Bissau, Semedo started playing football at the local club Fidjus di Bideras. In 2014, aged 16, he moved to Portugal and joined the Benfica youth system. After playing two years for their juniors team, he was loaned out to Vilafranquense in Campeonato de Portugal for one season. On 8 July 2017, he signed a four-year contract with Moreirense in Primeira Liga, with whom he would make his professional debut in a Taça da Liga match against Desportivo das Aves on 30 July that year.

Following his return to Benfica in July 2018 for €2.5 million, Semedo debuted for the first team in a 3–2 home win over Vitória de Guimarães in Primeira Liga on 10 August. Later, on 2 October, he made his UEFA Champions League debut, scoring his first and winning goal for Benfica in a 3–2 away victory over AEK Athens in the UEFA Champions League group stage, thus ending the former's eight-match losing streak in the competition's group stage.

On 31 January 2019, Semedo was loaned out to La Liga side RCD Espanyol until June. On 8 July, he joined English club Nottingham Forest on a season-long loan, along with Benfica teammate Yuri Ribeiro (the latter on a permanent transfer). He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–0 away win over Swansea City on 14 September 2019.

Semedo joined Reading on a season-long loan for the 2020–21 season. He made his debut in a 1–0 victory over Wycombe Wanderers on 20 October 2020. He scored his first goal for Reading in a 2–1 win over Luton Town on 26 December 2020.

On 10 August 2022, Semedo joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Tai on a three-year deal.

On 19 July 2024, Semedo joined Saudi First Division League club Neom.

On 20 August 2025, Semedo joined Pro League side Al-Fayha on a three-year deal.

International career He made his debut for Guinea-Bissau national football team on 26 March 2021 in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Eswatini and scored the team's second goal in a 3–1 win.

In December 2023, he was selected from the list of 25 Guinea-Bissau players selected by Baciro Candé to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Career statistics Club

International

International goals Scores and results list Guinea-Bissau's goal tally first. Score column indicates score after each Semedo goal.