Cape Verdean centre-back Diney has quietly built a solid professional career across three continents.
From Portugal’s top flight to Morocco’s Botola Pro and the UAE Pro League, his journey tells the story of a defender who earns well beyond the spotlight.
This article covers Diney’s net worth, his salary, contract, career earnings, and everything in between.
Diney’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edilson Alberto Monteiro Sanches Borges |
| Date of Birth | January 17, 1995 |
| Age (2026) | 31 years old |
| Birthplace | Tarrafal, Cape Verde |
| Nationality | Cape Verdean |
| Height / Weight | 185 cm / 78 kg (6’1″ / 172 lbs) |
| Position | Centre-Back (Defender) |
| Current Club | Al Bataeh (UAE Pro League) |
| Jersey Number | #23 |
| Turned Professional | November 2014 |
| Estimated Net Worth | $1.2 million |
| Market Value | €1.00 million (Transfermarkt, 2025/26) |
| National Team | Cape Verde |
Early Life & Career
Diney was born on January 17, 1995, in Tarrafal, a coastal town on the island of Santiago in Cape Verde.
Growing up in one of West Africa’s smallest island nations, he developed his football skills early and caught the attention of scouts in Portugal.
He began his youth career with Vitória F.C. in 2010 before joining the CS Marítimo academy on the island of Madeira.
Marítimo’s development system gave him structured training and professional mentorship, laying the groundwork for a career that would eventually take him across three continents.
On November 30, 2014, Diney made his professional debut with Marítimo B in a 2014–15 Segunda Liga match against Santa Clara.
That debut marked the start of an impressive run in the reserve side, where he made 75 appearances and scored 5 goals across four seasons.
His consistent performances in Portugal’s lower leagues showed a player with the composure and positional intelligence needed to compete at higher levels.
Professional Career
After earning his stripes at Marítimo B, Diney broke into Marítimo’s first team, making his Primeira Liga debut against C.F. União.
He went on to make 22 total appearances for Marítimo across all competitions, proving himself as a reliable defender in one of Portugal’s most competitive divisions.
In June 2018, he signed for Estoril Praia, another Portuguese club competing in Liga Portugal 2. That season, he added 16 appearances and a goal to his career record.
His career took a major turn when he moved to Morocco to join AS FAR Rabat in 2019. Over four seasons in the Botola Pro, Diney became one of the league’s standout foreign defenders.
His best season came in 2022–23, when he scored 9 league goals from centre-back and contributed 5 more in continental competition, finishing with an extraordinary 14 goals across all competitions in a single season.
That year, he earned the Botola Best Foreign Player award and made the Botola Team of the Season.
On July 4, 2023, UAE Pro League club Al Bataeh announced his signing. Diney has since been a regular starter for the Emirati club, accumulating 65 career appearances for the club across all competitions as of 2026.
He also carries the Cape Verde national team armband, having earned 24 international caps and scored 2 goals, including a goal in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.
Diney’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Diney has an estimated net worth of $1.2 million.
He built this wealth through professional football contracts in Portugal, Morocco, and the UAE, spanning over a decade of senior-level play.
Contract
Diney joined Al Bataeh on a deal announced on July 4, 2023. According to available squad data, his contract at the UAE Pro League club is listed with validity through June 2027.
The UAE Pro League is one of the fastest-growing football leagues in the world, and Al Bataeh, while not among the top-tier Gulf clubs, offers competitive salaries for international players of Diney’s profile and experience level.
Salary
Based on his Transfermarkt market value of €1.00 million and salary benchmarks for foreign defenders in the UAE Pro League, a reasonable estimate places his annual earnings in the range of $200,000–$300,000 per year.
During his four seasons at AS FAR Rabat, where the Moroccan Botola Pro salaries for quality foreign players typically range from $50,000–$150,000 annually, Diney’s earnings would have been meaningful but more modest. His move to the UAE represented a clear financial upgrade.
Career Earnings by Year (Estimated)
| Season | Club | League | Estimated Annual Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 to 2017–18 | Marítimo / Marítimo B | Primeira Liga / Campeonato de Portugal | ~$30,000–$50,000/year |
| 2018–19 | Estoril Praia | Liga Portugal 2 | ~$40,000–$60,000 |
| 2019–20 | AS FAR Rabat | Botola Pro | ~$60,000–$100,000 |
| 2020–21 | AS FAR Rabat | Botola Pro | ~$80,000–$120,000 |
| 2021–22 | AS FAR Rabat | Botola Pro | ~$100,000–$140,000 |
| 2022–23 | AS FAR Rabat | Botola Pro | ~$120,000–$150,000 |
| 2023–24 | Al Bataeh | UAE Pro League | ~$200,000–$250,000 |
| 2024–25 | Al Bataeh | UAE Pro League | ~$220,000–$280,000 |
| 2025–26 | Al Bataeh | UAE Pro League | ~$230,000–$300,000 |
Career Statistics
| Club | Seasons | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marítimo B | 2014–2018 | 75 | 5 |
| Marítimo | 2015–2018 | 22 | 0 |
| Estoril Praia | 2018–2019 | 16 | 1 |
| AS FAR Rabat | 2019–2023 | 116 | 18 |
| Al Bataeh | 2023–present | 65 | 4 |
| Career Total (Club) | 294 | 28 | |
| Cape Verde (International) | 2017–present | 24 | 2 |
FAQs
What is Diney’s net worth?
Diney’s estimated net worth is approximately $1.2 million. He earned this through professional football contracts in Portugal, Morocco, and the UAE over more than a decade.
What club does Diney currently play for?
Diney plays for Al Bataeh in the UAE Pro League. He signed with the Emirati club in July 2023 and holds a contract reported to run through June 2027.
How many international caps has Diney earned for Cape Verde?
Diney has earned 24 caps for the Cape Verde national team. He made his international debut in November 2017 and scored his first international goal in June 2024 against Libya.
What awards has Diney won in his career?
Diney won the Botola Best Foreign Player award in 2022–23 and made the Botola Team of the Season that same year during his time at AS FAR Rabat in Morocco.
Where was Diney born and how old is he?
Diney was born on January 17, 1995, in Tarrafal, Cape Verde. He is 31 years old in 2026.
