Early career Born in
Florianópolis,
Santa Catarina, Jardel was an
Avaí FC youth graduate. Signing his first professional contract at the age of only 16, being promoted to the first team. In March 2005, Jardel joined
Esporte Clube Vitória, winning the year's
Campeonato Baiano while at the club. After
suffering relegation from
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, he signed for
Santos FC on 15 January 2006. Jardel left
Peixe in December 2006 after making no appearances and struggling severely with injuries. He subsequently represented
Iraty Sport Club, Avaí,
Joinville Esporte Clube,
Ituano FC and
Desportivo Brasil before moving abroad. In 2009, Jardel moved to Portugal, where he would remain in the following years. He played
one season with
G.D. Estoril Praia in the
second division where he only missed two league games, then signed with
S.C. Olhanense in the
top level on a one-year deal. He made 19 total appearances in his half-season on the
Algarve, scoring in a 3–1 win over
Vitória de Setúbal on 2 October 2010 to put the team into second place.
Benfica In January 2011, Jardel joined Portuguese club
S.L. Benfica for a €500,000 transfer fee, replacing
Chelsea-bound
David Luiz. After two months of sporadic appearances, then manager
Jorge Jesus dropped
Sidnei and immediately inserted Jardel into the first team's starting lineup. On 28 April, he scored his first goal for the
Lisbon side, in a 2–1 home win against
S.C Braga for
the campaign's
UEFA Europa League semi-finals (2–2 aggregate loss), He finished
his first season with 16 appearances and won his first piece of
silverware; on 1 May on his return to the
Estádio José Arcanjo in
Olhão, he was sent off in a 1–1 draw.
The following season, Jardel made 18 appearances, serving mostly as backup to
Luisão and
Ezequiel Garay. He started the 2012–13 season with
Benfica's reserves in division two. After Luisão's two-month suspension, however, he was propelled directly into the first team's starting XI. During the
2013–14 season, like his 2011–12 season, he made 18 appearances, serving backup to Luisão and Garay. However, he enjoyed success as the club won the
domestic treble. After the departure of Ezequiel Garay to
Zenit Saint Petersburg, Jardel became a mainstay in Benfica's starting lineup. On 4 January 2015, Jardel scored his first goal for Benfica in the Primeira Liga, away at
F.C. Penafiel (0–3). On 8 February 2015, Jardel scored a crucial
last-minute goal to tie the
Lisbon derby (1–1) in the
Primeira Liga. He helped the club win their second straight Primeira Liga and
Taça da Liga In the
2015–16 season, Jardel enjoyed his best ever season, appearing in 44 games and scoring 5 goals. He played alongside three different
centre-backs, Luisão,
Lisandro López and
Victor Lindelöf, during the variation of the season. He scored the winner against
Vitória de Setúbal (2–1) at the
Estádio da Luz in the first half, securing Benfica's lead in the
Primeira Liga. For the third straight season, he won the Primeira Liga and Taça da Liga. Jardel's
2016–17 season was injury plagued, picking up a series of nagging injuries throughout the campaign. In the
following season, he regained his starting position after the departure of Lindelöf to
Manchester United. On 3 February 2018, he made his 200th appearance for the club and was elected
man of the match after a goal and assist in a 5–1 home win against
Rio Ave. In September 2018, Jardel became club captain upon the retirement of long-serving compatriot Luisão, and extended his contract by a further year to 2021. He played 19 games as the
Eagles regained the title from
FC Porto on the last day, including one with a straight red card for elbowing
Arsénio in a 3–1 home loss to
Moreirense F.C. on 2 November. Benfica announced in June 2021 that they would let Jardel's contract expire at the start of the new month, after 288 official appearances. ==Personal life==