From prison back to the pitch – Dani Alves ready to return after three years away

Robin Bairner

22 Dec 2025 07:01 CST
3 min read

Former Barcelona player Dani Alves is planning to return to professional football — © IMAGO

Former Barcelona and Brazil star Dani Alves is preparing to make an astonishing return to football after three years away from the game, during which he spent 14 months in prison.

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The 42-year-old’s return to action could come with Sporting Club de Sao Joao de Ver, a club in the third division of Portuguese football that he bought last week.

Dani Alves, who has won 43 major trophies in one of the most decorated careers ever, could sign a six-month deal with the club, according to a report from ESPN Brasil.

Dani Alves’ court case

Although Dani Alves has not played professional football since January 2023, when his contract with Liga MX side Pumas was terminated, he has rarely been out of the public spotlight.

He notably spent 14 months in prison after being accused of sexual assault in Spain for an incident that occurred on 31 December 2022. Imprisoned after his arrest in January 2023, he was sentenced to a four-and-a-half-year prison term in February 2024 but was released on bail while appealing a month later.

In March 2025, he was acquitted on appeal. The High Court of Justice of Catalonia ruled cited a lack of evidence in the case against the 126-time Brazil player, who had denied the accusations.

During his time away from football, Alves also gained attention for preaching at an evangelical church in Girona, Spain, going viral in the process.

“I made a pact with God. In the midst of turmoil, in the midst of the storm, there is always a messenger from God. And this messenger, at the worst moment of my life, took me in, led me to church for guidance, and today, I am on my way thanks to him,” he said.

© IMAGO - Dani Alves was acquitted of sexual assault

Six months to get up to speed

Since leaving prison, he has been working with the idea of getting back into the professional game, ESPN reports.

Alves has been operating “almost as an agent”, with his ultimate aim to start playing again.

Fitness is not an issue, according to the player, who says he will only need around a month to get back up to full speed.

With this in mind, he could be in action as soon as January in the Portuguese third tier for San Joao de Ver, who lie seventh out of 10 teams after winning promotion last season.

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