Former Brazil international Dani Alves, who recently spent 14 months in prison for sexual assault on a conviction which has since been overturned, has become a co-owner of Sporting Clube de São João de Ver, a third-tier Portuguese football club from Aveiro.
The club confirmed on Thursday night that Alves had become a co-owner of the club’s SAD (standing for Anonymous Sports Society – a type of sports company commonly created in Portugal to manage football clubs), formalising reports that had circulated earlier this month.
According to football news website Mais Futebol, Alves has purchased 50% of the SAD, while the remaining 50% is set to be purchased after the end of the current 2025/26 season, under an agreement already in place between the parties.
Alves, one of the most decorated players in football history and a former Barcelona and Brazil regular, is backed by a group of Brazilian investors in the deal, Mais Futebol adds.
“Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Sporting Clube de São João de Ver. A chapter written with ambition, identity and a vision for the future,” the club said in a statement.
“In a moment that will remain etched in the club’s memory, we officially confirm the entry of Daniel Alves as co-owner of the SAD of SC São João de Ver. A name that carries one of the most successful careers in world football now crosses paths with a club of deep roots, built on work, resilience and passion. Two distinct stories united by a common purpose: transforming potential into greatness,” the club added.
Alves has remained out of competitive football since January 2023. Now 42, he has been working behind the scenes in football since his release from prison in 2024, following 14 months of preventive detention in Spain. In March this year, the Catalonia High Court unanimously overturned his conviction for sexual assault, citing insufficient evidence.
Sources close to the process say that, alongside his role as an investor, Alves has also expressed a desire to return to playing, with the idea of signing a short-term contract with São João de Ver for around six months, from January to June 2026. However, no official confirmation has been made on that front.
