Helton Brant Aleixo Leite (born 2 November 1990), known as Helton Leite, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Segunda División side Deportivo de La Coruña.

Helton Leite
Leite with Benfica in 2020
Personal information
Full name Helton Brant Aleixo Leite
Date of birth (1990-11-02) 2 November 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Deportivo La Coruña
Number 25
Youth career
Atlético Mineiro
América Mineiro
2007 Goiás
2008–2010 Grêmio
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 J. Malucelli 1 (0)
2011 Boa Esporte 0 (0)
2012 Ipatinga 23 (0)
2013 Criciúma 11 (0)
2014–2018 Botafogo 25 (0)
2018São Caetano (loan) 10 (0)
2018–2020 Boavista 41 (0)
2020–2023 Benfica 17 (0)
2023–2024 Antalyaspor 51 (0)
2024– Deportivo La Coruña 0 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 26 June 2024

Career

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Early career

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Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Leite finished his graduation with Grêmio, but was released in 2010. In 2011, he joined J. Malucelli, making his senior debut on 1 May in a 2–1 home loss against Operário Ferroviário.

Leite subsequently moved to Série B side Boa Esporte, but failed to make any senior appearances for the club. On 19 January 2012, he signed for Ipatinga.[2]

Leite made his professional debut on 7 August 2012, starting in a 2–0 away win against Bragantino. He appeared in 23 league matches during the campaign, which ended in relegation.

On 8 January 2013, Leite joined Criciúma in Série A.[3] He made his debut in the category on 31 July, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–1 draw at Portuguesa. He would contribute with 11 appearances during the year, again experiencing team relegation.

Botafogo

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On 7 January 2014, Leite was presented at Botafogo.[4] Initially a third-choice behind Jefferson and Renan, he became the second-choice of Sidão when Renan left in 2016 and Jefferson was injured.

Leite was again a backup option in the 2017 campaign, this time behind another new signing, Gatito Fernández. On 14 December of that year, he moved to São Caetano on loan for the ensuing season.[5]

Boavista

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On 12 June 2018, Leite moved abroad for the first time in his career after joining Portuguese Primeira Liga side Boavista.[6] At the club, he was named the Best Goalkeeper during the months of January and February 2020.[7]

Benfica

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On 8 August 2020, Leite agreed to a five-year contract with Benfica.[8]

Deportivo La Coruña

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On 12 August 2024, after an 18-month spell at Turkish Süper Lig side Antalyaspor, Leite signed a two-year deal with Deportivo de La Coruña in the Spanish Segunda División.[9]

Personal life

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Helton Leite is the son of former goalkeeper João Leite.[10] He also holds Portuguese citizenship.[11]

Career statistics

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As of 17 May 2024[12]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
J. Malucelli 2011 Paranaense 1 0 1 0
Boa Esporte 2011 Série B 0 0 0 0
Ipatinga 2012 Série B 23 0 0 0 0 0 23 0
Criciúma 2013 Série A 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0
Botafogo 2014 Série A 3 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 8 0
2015 Série B 7 0 0 0 0 0 7 0
2016 Série A 6 0 0 0 5 0 11 0
2017 Série A 1 0 3 0 0 0 2[a] 0 6 0
Total 17 0 8 0 5 0 2 0 32 0
São Caetano 2018 Paulista 10 0 1 0 11 0
Boavista 2018–19 Primeira Liga 21 0 3 0 1 0 25 0
2019–20 Primeira Liga 20 0 1 0 0 0 21 0
Total 41 0 4 0 1 0 46 0
Benfica 2020–21 Primeira Liga 15 0 5 0 2 0 4 0 0 0 26 0
2021–22 Primeira Liga 2 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 7 0
2022–23 Primeira Liga 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 17 0 9 0 4 0 4 0 0 0 34 0
Antalyaspor 2022–23 Süper Lig 17 0 17 0
2023–24 Süper Lig 34 0 1 0 35 0
Total 51 0 1 0 52 0
Career total 160 0 19 0 20 0 5 0 6 0 0 0 210 0
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores

Honours

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Criciúma

Botafogo

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Helton Leite". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Ipatinga acerta a contratação do goleiro Helton Leite, do Boa Esporte" [Ipatinga signs goalkeeper Helton Leite, from Boa Esporte] (in Portuguese). Placar. 19 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Goleiros reforçam o Criciúma" [Goalkeepers bolster Criciúma] (in Portuguese). Criciúma's official website. 8 January 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Goleiro Helton Leite, ex-jogador do Criciúma, é apresentado no Botafogo" [Goalkeeper Helton Leite, former Criciúma player, is presented at Botafogo] (in Portuguese). Terra. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  5. ^ "Botafogo e São Caetano acertam ida de Helton Leite ao time paulista" [Botafogo and São Caetano agree move of Helton Leite to the paulista club] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ "Helton Leite deixa o Botafogo e acerta com o Boavista, de Portugal" [Helton Leite leaves Botafogo and signs for Portugal's Boavista] (in Brazilian Portuguese). UOL Esporte. 12 June 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Melhor goleiro do Português, Helton Leite defende Boavista, encara Porto e vislumbra Benfica" [Best goalkeeper of the Portuguese league, Helton Leite plays for Boavista, faces Porto and aims for Benfica] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Bem-vindo, Helton Leite!" [Welcome, Helton Leite!] (in Portuguese). SL Benfica. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Helton Leite completa la portería del Dépor" [Helton Leite completes the goal of Dépor] (in Spanish). Deportivo La Coruña. 12 August 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Nos passos de pai ídolo, Helton Leite pode ser o raio no mesmo lugar" [In the footsteps of the idol Catherine, Helton Leite may be the lightning in the same place] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Helton Leite: "Tenho o sonho de jogar numa liga das "Big 5"". 98 Live (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  12. ^ Helton Leite at Soccerway. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Helton Leite, Tapsoba, Bruno Fernandes, Ricardo Horta, Corona e Ruíz também foram distinguidos". Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Sérgio Conceição, Helton Leite, Sérgio Oliveira, Sandro Lima, Pedro Nuno e Rodrigo Dantas foram os outros premiados". Retrieved 24 March 2020.
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