{{short description|Brazilian footballer (born 1993)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Rodrigo Ely | image = Rodrigo Ely 2016 ICC.jpg | image_size = | caption = Ely playing for Milan in 2016 | full_name = Rodrigo Ely | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|11|03|df=y}} | birth_place = Lajeado, Brazil | height = {{height|m=1.91}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.udalmeriasad.com/jugador/rodrigo-ely |title=Rodrigo Ely |language=es |publisher=UD Almería |access-date=28 September 2022}}</ref> | currentclub = Almería | clubnumber = 5 | position = Centre back | youthyears1 = 2011–2012 | youthclubs1 = Grêmio | years1 = 2012–2014 | clubs1 = Milan | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2012–2013 | clubs2 = → Reggina (loan) | caps2 = 27 | goals2 = 1 | years3 = 2013–2014 | clubs3 = → Varese (loan) | caps3 = 37 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2014–2015 | clubs4 = Avellino | caps4 = 30 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2015–2017 | clubs5 = Milan | caps5 = 3 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2017 | clubs6 = → Alavés (loan) | caps6 = 10 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2017–2021 | clubs7 = Alavés | caps7 = 69 | goals7 = 4 | years8 = 2021–2022 | clubs8 = Nottingham Forest | caps8 = 0 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2022–2023 | clubs9 = Almería | caps9 = 48 | goals9 = 3 | years10 = 2023–2026 | clubs10 = Grêmio | caps10 = 45 | goals10 = 1 | years11 = 2026– | clubs11 = Almería | caps11 = 0 | goals11 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2011–2012 | nationalteam1 = Italy U19 | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2012 | nationalteam2 = Italy U20 | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2014–2016 | nationalteam3 = Brazil U23 | nationalcaps3 = 3{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} | nationalgoals3 = 0 | club-update = 14 December 2025 | nationalteam-update = 8 June 2017 }}

'''Rodrigo Ely''' (born 3 November 1993) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Spanish club UD Almería.

== Club career == ===Milan=== Rodrigo Ely is a youth product of Brazilian club, Grêmio, and joined Milan in 2012. He spent two years with the youth side before subsequent loan spells with several low tier Italian clubs.

====Reggina / Varese (loan)==== On 24 July 2012, Ely joined Reggina on a season-long loan. On 16 July 2013, AC Milan confirmed that they had reached an agreement for the season-long loan of Ely to Varese.

===Avellino=== On 21 July 2014, Ely joined Avellino on a free transfer.<ref>A.C. Milan S.p.A. ''bilancio'' (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2014 (in Italian), [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usavellino.club/news/7867-il-difensore-rodrigo-ely-e-dell-avellino-a-titolo-definitivo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011221158/http://www.usavellino.club/news/7867-il-difensore-rodrigo-ely-e-dell-avellino-a-titolo-definitivo|url-status=usurped|archive-date=11 October 2016|title=Il difensore Rodrigo Ely è dell'Avellino, a titolo definitivo|date=21 July 2014|access-date=26 May 2016|publisher=A.S. Avellino 1912|language=Italian}}</ref>

===Return to Milan=== After impressive performances with Avellino in the 2014–15 season, Milan decided to bring him back to San Siro on 10 June 2015, where he signed new contract which will keep him at the club until 30 June 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calciomercato.com/news/milan-ufficiale-torna-rodrigo-ely-161440|title=Milan, UFFICIALE: torna Rodrigo Ely|accessdate=July 28, 2015|publisher=calciomercato.com}}</ref> Despite Ely being a free agent, Milan also paid an unknown party a €8 million fee.<ref>A.C. Milan S.p.A. ''bilancio'' (financial report and accounts) on 31 December 2015 (in Italian), [http://www.registroimprese.it PDF purchased from Italian C.C.I.A.A.]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.calcioefinanza.it/2016/04/15/quanto-sono-costati-ely-mauri-bacca-adriano-milan/|title=Rodrigo Ely, Josè Mauri, Bacca, Adriano: ecco quanto sono costati veramente|date=15 April 2016|access-date=1 August 2017|work=Calcio e Finanza|language=Italian}}</ref>

He made his first Serie A game of the 2015–16 season with Milan, in a 2–0 defeat against Fiorentina, where he received two yellow cards, thus getting sent off.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/23/italy/serie-a/acf-fiorentina/ac-milan/2120377/?ICID=PL_MS_05|title=Fiorentina vs. AC Milan - 23 August 2015 - Soccerway|website=int.soccerway.com}}</ref>

===Alavés=== On 30 January 2017, Ely joined La Liga club Deportivo Alavés on loan for the remainder of the season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rodrigo Ely, calidad y solidez para la defensa albiazul |trans-title=Rodrigo Ely, quality and solidness for the white-and-blue defense |url=http://www.deportivoalaves.com/noticia/rodrigo-ely-calidad-y-solidez-para-la-defensa-albiazul |work=deportivoalaves.com |publisher=Deportivo Alavés |date=30 January 2017 |accessdate=30 January 2017 |language=Spanish}}</ref> He made his debut for the club on 11 March, replacing Ibai Gómez in a 2–1 away win against Málaga CF.

On 17 April 2017, Ely scored his first goal in the main category, netting his team's second in a 2–1 home win against Villarreal CF. On 21 July, he signed a permanent four-year deal with the Basque side.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deportivoalaves.com/noticia/rodrigo-ely-regresa-al-deportivo-alaves-para-las-proximas-4-temporadas|title=Rodrigo Ely regresa al Deportivo Alavés para las próximas 4 temporadas|trans-title=Rodrigo Ely returns to Deportivo Alavés for the following 4 seasons|publisher=Deportivo Alavés|language=es|date=21 July 2017|accessdate=2 August 2017}}</ref>

===Nottingham Forest=== On 2 September 2021, Ely signed a one-year deal with EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest as a free transfer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2021/september/Rodrigo-Ely-joins-Forest/|title=Rodrigo Ely joins Forest|first=Nottingham Forest Football|last=Club|website=Nottingham Forest Football Club|date=2 September 2021 }}</ref> On 31 January 2022, it was announced that Forest and Ely had mutually agreed to terminate his contract at the club, without him having made an appearance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/football/transfer-news/nottingham-forest-transfer-news-ely-6580739|title = Rodrigo Ely leaves Forest without making single appearance|date = 31 January 2022}}</ref>

===Almería=== On 7 March 2022, free agent Ely signed a three-month contract with UD Almería back in Spain, with an option for a further two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.udalmeriasad.com/noticia/rodrigo-ely-fortaleza-y-experiencia-para-la-defensa-del-almeria|title=Rodrigo Ely, fortaleza y experiencia para la defensa del Almería|trans-title=Rodrigo Ely, strength and experience for Almería's defense|publisher=UD Almería|language=es|date=7 March 2022|accessdate=7 March 2022}}</ref>

===Grêmio=== On 1 August 2023, Ely agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with his first club Grêmio, pending on medical examinations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/26640/gremio-recebe-o-zagueiro-rodrigo-ely-para-exames-e-encaminhamento-de-contratacao-|title=Grêmio recebe o zagueiro Rodrigo Ely para exames e encaminhamento de contratação|trans-title=Grêmio receive the stopper Rodrigo Ely for examinations and set the signing|publisher=Grêmio FBPA|language=pt-BR|date=1 August 2023|accessdate=2 August 2023}}</ref> On 30 January 2026, he terminated his link with the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2026/01/30/gremio-anuncia-rescisao-de-contrato-de-zagueiro-rodrigo-ely-saiba-detalhes.ghtml|title=Grêmio anuncia rescisão de contrato de zagueiro Rodrigo Ely; saiba detalhes|trans-title=Grêmio announce contract rescision with centre-back Rodrigo Ely; know the details|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=30 January 2026|accessdate=2 February 2026}}</ref>

===Almería return=== On 2 February 2026, Ely returned to Almería on a six-month contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.udalmeriasad.com/noticias/rodrigo-ely-regresa-a-la-ud-almeria|title=Rodrigo Ely regresa a la UD Almería|trans-title=Rodrigo Ely returns to UD Almería|publisher=UD Almería|language=es|date=2 February 2026|accessdate=2 February 2026}}</ref>

== International career == Ely played for Italy at Under-19 and Under-20,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250029048/profile/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110925211144/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/players/player=250029048/profile/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 September 2011|title=Rodrigo Ely}} accessed 19 September 2015</ref> but was called up by Alexandre Gallo to be a part of his Brazil Under-23 squad, which was preparing to compete at Rio 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/70668_report__avellino_s_rodrigo_ely_and_livorno_full-back_maicon_turn_down_italy_to_represent_brazil_.html|title=Avellino's Rodrigo Ely and Livorno full-back Maicon turn down Italy to represent Brazil}} accessed 19 September 2015</ref>

== Career statistics == {{updated|match played 5 August 2024}}<ref>{{Soccerway|rodrigo-ely/245587|accessdate=19 September 2015}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|Reggina (loan)||2012–13 | rowspan="3" |Serie B ||27||1||3||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||30||1 |- |rowspan="1"|Varese (loan)||2013–14 ||37||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearance(s) in Relegation Playoffs}}||0||41||0 |- |Avellino||2014–15 ||30||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||3{{efn|Appearance(s) in Promotion Playoffs}}||0||35||0 |- | rowspan="3" |Milan||2015–16 | rowspan="2" |Serie A ||3||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||0 |- |2016–17 |0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||0||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !3!!0!!1!!0!! colspan="2" |—!! colspan="2" |—!!4!!0 |- | Alavés (loan)||2016–17 | rowspan="5" |La Liga ||10||1||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||11||1 |- | rowspan="5" |Alavés||2017–18 |31||1||5||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||36||1 |- |2018–19 |5||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||5||0 |- |2019–20 |25||2||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||25||2 |- |2020–21 |8||1||0||0|| colspan="2" |—|| colspan="2" |—||8||1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !79!!5!!6!!0!! colspan="2" |—!! colspan="2" |—!!85!!5 |- | rowspan="3" |Almería |2021–22 |Segunda División |12 |3 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |12 |3 |- |2022–23 |La Liga |36 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |36 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !48 !3 !0 !0 ! colspan="2" |— ! colspan="2" |— !48 !3 |- | rowspan="3" |Grêmio |2023 | rowspan="2" |Série A |9 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |10 |0 |- |2024 |13 |1 |2 |0 |5 |0 |8{{Efn|Appearances in Campeonato Gaúcho}} |0 |28 |1 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !22 !1 !3 !0 !5 !0 !8 !0 !38 !1 |- ! colspan="3" |Career Total !246!!10!!17!!0!!5 !0!!13!!0!!281!!10 |}

{{Notelist}}

== Honours ==

=== Club ===

; Milan *Supercoppa Italiana: 2016

;Alavés *Copa del Rey: 2016-17 Runner-up

'''Grêmio''' *Campeonato Gaúcho: 2024

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{BDFutbol|85055}}

{{UD Almería squad}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ely, Rodrigo}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Rio Grande do Sul Category:Brazilian people of Italian descent Category:Italian people of Brazilian descent Category:Italian men's footballers Category:Brazilian men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Serie A players Category:Serie B players Category:AC Milan players Category:US Avellino 1912 players Category:SSD Varese Calcio players Category:AS Reggina 1914 players Category:La Liga players Category:Deportivo Alavés players Category:UD Almería players Category:Grêmio FBPA players Category:Italy men's youth international footballers Category:Brazil men's youth international footballers Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in England Category:People from Lajeado Category:21st-century Italian sportsmen Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England