Developed at Sporting CP, he went to on to serve two loans then make 48 competitive appearances for its first team.[2] In 2017 he signed with Villarreal and, after two years and as many loans, joined Olympiacos where he won several titles, including two Super League Greece championships.
Semedo made his full debut for Portugal in 2020. His career has been marred by legal problems off the field.[3][4]
Semedo spent the 2013–14 season with the B team in the Segunda Liga, his first appearance in the competition occurring on 25 August 2013 as he played the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 home win against Trofense.[6] On 26 August 2014, he, alongside teammate Vítor, was loaned to Spanish side Reus.[7]
On 18 February 2016, Semedo played his first game in European competition, being sent off after two bookable offences in a 1–0 home loss to Bayer Leverkusen in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League.[13] On 9 March he signed a new contract until 2022, with a release clause being set at €45 million.[14]
Villarreal
Semedo was transferred to Villarreal on 7 June 2017, for €14 million.[15] He made his La Liga debut on 25 August, playing the entire 3–0 away defeat against Real Sociedad.[16] After Javier Calleja took over as head coach on 25 September he fell out of favour, and having seen himself become a rotation player his stint was also plagued by injuries, which ultimately required surgery in December.[17]
On 19 July 2018, Semedo was loaned to newly promoted club Huesca for the upcoming season.[18] The decision to sign him attracted some criticism, but sporting director Emilio Vega stated that the player would be in good shape once the season began because he played some matches while in prison.[17] Moreover, Vega stated that they would not be monitoring his off-field behaviour. "I was very keen to play again and Huesca have given me an opportunity to do so in the first division. I didn't hesitate to accept their offer", Semedo said at his introductory press conference.[17]
Still owned by Villarreal, and after being deemed surplus to requirements by manager Francisco,[19] Semedo returned to Portugal on 29 January 2019, signing with Rio Ave until June.[20]
On 1 December 2021, in his first match for nearly four months due to off-the-field issues, Semedo scored in a 3–2 defeat at Levadiakos in the last 16 of the cup.[28] The following month, he was hospitalised after being beaten at his doorstep by hooded men.[29]
On 31 January 2022, Semedo moved to Porto on a five-month loan worth €350,000, with the deal including an unspecified buying option.[30][31] In order to regain his fitness, he started playing with the reserve team.[32]
On 24 January 2024, the free agent Semedo signed for Al-Markhiya also in the Qatari top division.[37] In July, he moved to Al-Khor in the same league.[38]
Semedo won his first full cap on 7 October 2020, playing the entire 0–0 friendly draw with Spain.[41]
Legal issues and convictions
In January 2018, it was announced that Semedo would stand trial for an altercation in a bar in Valencia the previous November, when the player allegedly brandished a pistol and made threats while he was nursing an injury.[42][43] He was arrested again for a separate incident on 20 February, this time for allegedly tying up and torturing a man in his home alongside two others, then going to the victim's house to burgle it.[44][45] For the latter incident, he was charged with attempted murder and placed in preventive detention.[46]
Semedo was released from prison on 13 July 2018, after paying bail of €30,000.[47] Facing a maximum 151⁄2-year sentence, he confessed two years later to kidnap, robbery, wounding and illegal firearm possession; he was fined €46,000 and banned from entering Spain for the next eight years.[48][49]
On 30 August 2021, Semedo was arrested in Athens following a gang rape allegation filed by a 17-year-old teenager after a night out in Oropos.[50] Police arrested a second man, also accused of leading the girl to Semedo's house where the actions allegedly took place.[51][52] The player was freed from custody days later after paying a €10,000 bond.[53]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 22 August 2022
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Costa, Nuno Alexandre (19 January 2016). "Jorge Jesus atento aos jogadores emprestados" [Jorge Jesus keeping an eye on loaned players] (in Portuguese). Relvado. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^Almeida Gonçalves, Vítor (20 January 2016). "Rúben Semedo de regresso a Alvalade" [Rúben Semedo returns to Alvalade]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 February 2016.
^ abLaranjeira, Francisco (13 September 2020). "Pedro Martins oferece 18.ª dobradinha" [Pedro Martins offers 18th double]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 September 2020.
^"Rúben Semedo reforça FC Porto" [Rúben Semedo bolsters FC Porto] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
^Alvarenga, Vítor Hugo (14 May 2022). "FC Porto-Estoril, 2–0 (crónica)" [FC Porto-Estoril, 2–0 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 14 May 2022.