Deivid Washington made his much-anticipated return to Santos FC on February 27, 2025, showcasing his joy and excitement during his presentation at Vila Belmiro. The 19-year-old striker, who wore the number 36 jersey—previously associated with Santos legend Giovanni—expressed heartfelt emotions about reconnecting with his roots.
Upon his return, Deivid stated, "Muito feliz mesmo. Eu sempre quis jogar no profissional do Santos. Tive oportunidade em 2023 e voltar agora em 2025 é um orgulho imenso. Não tem nem o que falar. Foi uma experiência enorme..." (translated: "I’m really happy. I always wanted to play professionally for Santos. I had the opportunity in 2023, and to come back now in 2025 is an immense pride. There’s nothing more to say. It was an enormous experience...").
Deivid's story took him from Santos to Chelsea after he had impressed during his initial stint at the Brazilian club, where he scored two goals over 16 appearances. He was bought by Chelsea in August 2023, but found playing time scarce, with only three appearances for the senior team—two in the Premier League and one against opponents in the FA Cup. This lack of opportunity led him to request, "Quero fazer de tudo para ganhar um título e fazer história aqui" (translated: "I want to do everything to win a title and make history here").
His desire to return was fueled by the pride he felt wearing the Santos jersey and the legacy he aimed to build. Before transferring back, amid interest from several European clubs, his commitment to Santos never waned. "Desde quando abriu opções para ser emprestado, eu queria vir para o Santos e já estava com conversas para vim para cá", he explained (translated: "Since options opened for me to be loaned, I wanted to come back to Santos and was already having conversations to come back here").
During his reveal, Deivid recounted the remarkable moment of meeting his idol, Neymar. The two crossed paths when Neymar congratulated him for being the South American U-20 champion with the Brazilian national team—an achievement Deivid could not entirely absorb at first. "Fui na fisioterapia, ele [Neymar] chegou em mim, deu parabéns pelo campeonato e eu não soube o que falar. Não passou nada na cabeça para trocar um papo. Falei só um 'Valeu, homem' e travei" (translated: "I was doing physiotherapy when he came up to me, congratulated me for the championship, and I didn’t know what to say. Nothing came to my mind to start a conversation. I just said 'Thanks, man' and froze").
Reflecting on his time at Chelsea, he acknowledged it as "uma experiência enorme" (translated: "a huge experience"). He elaborated, saying, "Deus sabe de todas as coisas... Para eu ter saído naquele ano, foi planejamento de Deus" (translated: "God knows everything... For me to have left at the right time was God’s plan"). Deivid saw value not only from the playing experience but also from training alongside football luminaries, including Brazilian defender Thiago Silva.
Deivid is eager to translate his experiences abroad and newfound skills back to Santos. He described his aim to leverage his background to boost the club’s success: "Espero ajudar o Santos com muitas alegrias" (translated: "I hope to help Santos with plenty of joy"). He’s also loudened his enthusiasm for his partnership with Neymar, categorizing it as "fantástico" (translated: "fantastic") and expressing admiration for Neymar as one of the best players globally.
Looking forward, Deivid is ready for his role under coach Pedro Caixinha, as he’s been cleared to participate in the upcoming quarter-final match of the Campeonato Paulista against Red Bull Bragantino on Sunday. The match is set to kick off at 20:45 (Brasília time) at the historic Vila Belmiro.
With his return to Santos, Deivid Washington is not just stepping onto the pitch again; he is stepping back to fulfill unresolved dreams and create new memories with the fans and history of Santos FC. With hopes high, both for individual glory and team success, the young striker is determined to assert his presence and etch his name yet again among Santos legends.