Ricardo Santos

Santos was a youth team player at Dagenham & Redbridge, making one appearance in the matchday squad, before he was released and signed by Thurrock manager Mark Stimson, following a spell at Dover Athletic where he made no appearances. He impressed for the Isthmian League club, making 24 appearances, and was signed by Peterborough United manager Darren Ferguson on a three-and-a-half-year contract in February 2014. Peterborough paid £8000 for him. He made his League One debut on 3 May in a 0–0 draw with Port Vale at London Road. Santos scored his first goal for the club when he scored a late winner against Doncaster Rovers on 19 March 2016. On 1 January 2017, Santos joined Barnet for a fee of £100,000. He made his debut on the following day in a 1–0 win over Plymouth Argyle. He left the club at the end of the 2019–20 season having spent two and a half seasons with the Bees, making 94 appearances, scoring six goals.

Bolton Wanderers

Santos signed for Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal on 3 August 2020. His debut came on 5 September in Bolton's first match of the season, a 2–1 home defeat against Bradford in the first round of the EFL Cup. On 1 March 2021, Santos signed a new contract with Bolton until 2023. He was named as EFL League Two Player of the Month for February 2021. On 21 May 2021, following the team's direct promotion to the EFL League One, he was announced to have been voted as Bolton Wanderers' Player of the Year for the 2020–21 season. Plus, he was…

Born in Portugal, Santos is of Cape Verdean descent. In May 2025, he accepted a call-up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies against Malaysia and Georgia. He played for the Tubarões Azuis on 3 June in a behind closed doors training match, playing 90 minutes in a 3–0 win over Malaysia. As it was a training match, it wasn't considered an official appearance. Santos made his official debut for Cape Verde in a friendly against Egypt on 17 November 2025.

As of 6 October 2026

International

As of 18 November 2025

Bolton Wanderers

EFL League Two third-place promotion: 2020–21 EFL Trophy: 2022–23 Individual

EFL League Two Player of the Month: February 2021 PFA Team of the Year: 2020–21 League Two, 2021–22 League One, 2022–23 League One, 2023–24 League One Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year: 2020–21 EFL League One Team of the Season: 2022–23