Murillo

Murillo is a Brazilian centre-back whose game connects defending near his own goal with attacks begun from deep. He can carry the ball out of the back line or look beyond midfield with a long pass, giving his team different ways to move forward after winning possession.

His route into senior football ran through Corinthians, whose youth setup he joined in 2019. He broke into their first team in 2023 and moved to Nottingham Forest that August. The transfer took him from his breakthrough year in Brazilian league football to the Premier League.

His passing soon provided a clear example of what he could add. Against Newcastle United on Boxing Day 2023, Murillo sent Chris Wood through for the goal that completed the striker's hat-trick in a 3–1 win. Forest also used his dribbling to advance on the counter. He finished his first English season with the club's 2023/24 Player of the Season award.

Alongside Nikola Milenković in 2024/25, his defensive value had a different shape. Milenković could step towards an attacker to contest the ball while Murillo's speed helped cover behind him. In Nuno Espírito Santo's compact defence, much of their work happened centrally, close to their own penalty area. His positioning, blocks and clearances served those defensive duties, while his forward carries helped Forest start attacks.

Senior international football brought another stage. Murillo played for Brazil against Argentina in Buenos Aires in March 2025, appearing for 45 minutes in a World Cup qualifier that Brazil lost 4–1. The match added international experience to a career that had developed quickly after his breakthrough at Corinthians.

His European club story expanded in 2026. On 19 February, he opened the scoring with a shot that took a slight deflection in Forest's 3–0 Europa League win at Fenerbahçe. Forest's run ended against Aston Villa in the semi-finals that May, with Murillo appearing as a late substitute in the second leg. It was a continental campaign with a memorable attacking contribution from a defender.

Latest stats & form

Match coverage through 18 October 2026 · club and country

Murillo is listed as a centre-back for Nottingham Forest. Across 8 covered appearances for club and country in 2026/27, he has 0 goals and 1 assist in 660 minutes, with 7 starts. That is 0.14 goals and assists combined per 90 minutes. His last 5 covered official appearances for club and country, from 5 September 2026 to 18 October 2026, produced 0 goals and 1 assist. Across the season coverage, he has 10 recorded interceptions.