Getting to know Elliot Simões: A profile of Doncaster Rovers’ latest signing

Here, we take a look at the 25-year-old’s career so far.

Name: Elliot Jorge Simões Inacio

Born: December 20, 1999, Portugal

A TRICKY WINGER

Simões is described as a technically gifted and direct winger who has good ability in front of goal. Not outrageously quick, he is nevertheless confident in beating his marker.

HE GREW UP IN PORTUGAL….AND IN GOOD COMPANY

Simões was born in Portugal and spent time in the academies of Benfica and Sporting as a child. Some of his team mates during his early years included European Championship winner Renato Sanches, Atletico Madrid’s £100m signing Joao Felix and current Milan striker Rafael Leao.

A DRAMATIC CHANGE OF CLIMATE - AND CLUB - IN HIS TEENS

Along with his family, Simões moved to Greater Manchester during his teenage years and he joined up with FC United of Manchester. He came through the ranks at Broadhurst Park and caught plenty of attention at first team level. With two goals and right assists in 23 appearances, he caught the eye of Barnsley.

RISING INTO THE LEAGUE

Simões switched to Barnsley in January 2019 for an undisclosed fee and signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Oakwell. He has since signed a new deal which ties him to Barnsley until the summer of 2023.

SUCCESS UNDER STRUBER

He did not make his debut for Barnsley until a substitute appearance in October 2019, following the departure of boss Daniel Stendel. Though not initially used by new boss Gerhard Struber, Simões worked his way into the Austrian’s thoughts after Christmas. After coming off the bench early in the Reds’ first game of 2020 at Derby County, Simões scored his first goal for the club, though would not earn his first league start until a month later. By the end of last season he had made 18 appearances for Barnsley, with seven starts and two goals.

BUT WOE UNDER ISMAEL

Simões has found game time much harder to come by since Struber’s departure in October. He was handed his first start under new boss Valerien Ismael in a defeat at Cardiff City in November but was subbed off during the first half. Ismael afterwards questioned his ‘intensity’ and ‘seriousness’ and has not included him in a matchday squad since early November. Simões worked with the club’s U23s since then.

WHAT THEY SAID

Former Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber: “He is a big talent but what is really important is his energy, desire and work ethic. I am convinced that not only will Elliot be a big player for the next years.”

Current Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael: “He is a young player with a lot of quality. But you have to understand that to be a player and be professional, you have to be serious in any situation. He needs to improve his intensity, seriousness in the game and his work out of possession and to show more of his quality with the ball.”

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