Iago Silva, the son of former Brazilian international defender Thiago Silva, has made the significant decision to accept a call-up to the England Under-15 squad. This comes despite his renowned father having represented Brazil on 113 occasions, playing in multiple FIFA World Cups throughout his illustrious career. This move opens the door for young Iago to potentially represent the senior England national team in the future.
Young Iago Silva received his first England U15 call-up under the guidance of coach Kevin Betsy. This choice highlights a different path for the young footballer compared to his father, who consistently played for the Brazilian national team. Thiago Silva, a celebrated figure and former defender for Premier League club Chelsea, concluded his highly successful playing career at Fluminense in Brazil, having spent significant time at the top level in European football.
Thiago Silva’s career resume includes stints at several major clubs such as Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, and AC Milan. He notably captained Brazil twice during his four FIFA World Cup appearances. Despite his father’s extensive experience and widespread fame as a Brazilian international, Iago has chosen a different national footballing allegiance.
Iago, the younger son in the family, is now embarking on his own football journey and has the potential to represent a national team other than Brazil. The 14-year-old recently shared images on social media from St George’s Park, the training ground for the England national teams, confirming his initial call-up to the England U15 setup. He accompanied his post with a message indicating this was his first summons to the squad.
Born in Brazil, the 14-year-old moved to England five years ago, aligning with his father’s transfer to Chelsea in 2020. During Thiago Silva’s tenure at Stamford Bridge, where he helped the Blues secure a UEFA Champions League title, his son Iago was also part of Chelsea’s youth academy. Iago currently plays for Chelsea’s Under-15 team, while his elder brother, Isago Silva, 16, also a defender like their father, represents Chelsea’s Under-18 squad.
Recognizing his rapid development and clear abilities, the England setup extended an invitation to Iago to join their training sessions and assess his talent, even though the England U15 team currently has no international fixtures scheduled. Prior to his father’s departure from Chelsea in 2024, Iago Silva had the memorable experience of serving as a ball boy during a UEFA Champions League match involving Chelsea and SL Benfica. Furthermore, Iago has also been called up to Chelsea’s second team, indicating his promising progress within the club’s ranks.
While his son has chosen to represent England internationally, Thiago Silva is likely to be immensely proud of Iago’s development. His sons are following in his professional footsteps by progressing through the Chelsea academy, a club where Thiago himself enjoyed significant success. Back in 2023, the veteran defender publicly expressed his dream of seeing his sons play for Chelsea.
