In summer 2011, Josué was released by Porto with only two official appearances to his credit, both in the Taça da Liga,[4][5] and signed with F.C. Paços de Ferreira. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 17 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away loss against C.D. Nacional.[6] In his second year he contributed 23 league appearances – 18 starts – as the club finished a best-ever third and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, and was chosen as Best Young Player in the competition in the process.[7]
Deemed surplus to requirements at Porto as practically all Portuguese players, Josué then spent 18 months on loan at Bursaspor. He made his Süper Lig debut on 30 August 2014, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–2 home loss to Galatasaray SK, and helped the team to the final of the Turkish Cup, notably contributing a brace to a 3–2 away defeat of Samsunspor in the group phase on 24 December 2014.[12] On 26 January 2016, he returned to his homeland and was loaned to S.C. Braga for the rest of the campaign,[13] netting against his parent club in the decisive match of the Taça de Portugal that was won in a penalty shootout for their first such title in half a century.[14]
On 23 August 2016, Josué returned to Turkey, joining Galatasaray on a season-long loan.[15] He scored his first goal for the Istanbul-based team on 25 December, closing a 5–1 home win against Alanyaspor six minutes after replacing Eren Derdiyok.[16]
Osmanlıspor and Akhisarspor
Josué left Porto in August 2017, signing a two-year contract at Osmanlıspor again in Turkey's top flight.[17] He was released in December, and resumed his career the following July with a deal of the same length at Akhisarspor.[18] His side finished runners-up in the Turkish Cup to former club Galatasaray, with him scoring in both legs of a 5–2 aggregate victory over Kasımpaşa S.K. in the quarter-finals.[19] In June 2019, however, after being relegated, he severed his ties to the organisation.[20]
Josué and Vítor halved their salaries in May 2020 to stay in Israel for another year.[24] Ten months later, he extended his stay for one more season.[25]
Josué scored 12 goals in 32 games in 2022–23 as the team from the capital city came runners-up to Raków Częstochowa, adding seven assists and being voted the league's Midfielder of the Season and also nominated for Player of the Season, which went to Kamil Grosicki.[28] On 29 October that year, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–2 win at Jagiellonia Białystok;[29] his performances earned him a one-year extension.[30]
On 5 October 2023, Josué was arrested by Dutch police alongside teammate Radovan Pankov after an altercation with security staff following a match against AZ Alkmaar in the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League;[31] they were released the following day without charge.[32] On 14 December, he assisted Blaž Kramer in the reverse fixture for a 2–0 home victory, securing qualification as second.[33] The following day, UEFA charged AZ with a €40,000 fine for failing to provide security for the Polish side at the AZ Stadium.[34]
In May 2024, Josué was again nominated for the Ekstraklasa Midfielder of the Season award.[35] Shortly after, he announced on Instagram that he would leave the Polish Army Stadium on 30 June when his contract expired.[36] During his last appearance for Legia, ultras displayed a banner with the words in Portuguese: “Obrigado, capitão!” (lit.'Thank you, Captain!').[37] The fans gathered at the stadium to chant his name, and when he walked off the field in the 90th minute they honoured him with a standing ovation. He assisted both goals in the 2–1 win over Zagłębie Lubin, and later approached the Żyleta stand with his daughter to thank the supporters;[37] his departure was due to the reluctance of the board of directors, most notably sporting director Jacek Zieliński, to hand him a new deal. The decision, announced three weeks before the end of the campaign, was met with resentment from club fans, with manager Gonçalo Feio also distancing himself from it.[37]
In the second leg of the play-offs against Sweden on 19 November, Josué (who was not used in the game) extended his middle finger towards the opposing fans, while celebrating his country's qualification to the World Cup after the final whistle.[41]
Career statistics
As of 27 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
^Ramos, Steve (25 August 2017). "OFICIAL: Josué assina pelo Osmanlispor" [OFFICIAL: Josué signs for Osmanlıspor] (in Portuguese). Be Soccer. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
^Pereira, Sérgio (13 June 2019). "Josué rescinde com o Akhisar" [Josué cuts ties with Akhisar] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
