Raffaele De Vita (born 23 September 1987) is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Italian side Anagni. De Vita started his career with Blackburn Rovers, and has also played for Swindon Town, Bradford City, Cheltenham Town, Ross County, Partick Thistle, Falkirk, Edinburgh City, and Livingston.
Born in Rome, Italy, De Vita grew up supporting Lazio and idolised Paolo Di Canio, who later coached him when he joined Swindon Town. De Vita began his career at a boys club in Rome, it has previously been reported as being the Roma academy, which was ironic, due to the fact De Vita supported Roma's rivals, Lazio - De Vita himself set these rumours straight in an interview with The Athletic) until he was scouted by Blackburn Rovers, which he said came "out of nowhere".
De Vita began his career with Blackburn Rovers but did not make an appearance for the first team. He joined Scottish club Livingston in July 2008. At one point, De Vita considered quitting Livingston, as a result of the club entering administration, but continued to play for the club, after Gary Bollan had come in as manager and he had regained his fitness. He made his debut on 14 February 2009 against St Johnstone, and the following week scored his first goal against Dundee. At the end of the 2010âÂÂ11 season, during which he helped the club win promotion to the Scottish First Division, De Vita was among seven players to be released by the club despite becoming a fans' favourite. During his career at Livingston, he made 67 league appearances and scored 22 goals.
In June 2011, he signed for Swindon Town on a two-year contract.
He made his debut on 6 August, in a 3âÂÂ0 win against Crewe Alexandra, ensuring new manager Paolo di Canio's first competitive game in charge of Swindon ended with a win. He scored his first goal for the club on 24 August, in a 1âÂÂ0 win against Championship side Bristol City in the League Cup. He scored his first league goal for the club on 24 September, opening the scoring in a 4âÂÂ0 win against Barnet. He followed this up with goals against Hereford United, Plymouth Argyle, Huddersfield Town and Morecambe to finish his debut season with six goals, and helped Swindon to win the League Two title.
He made his first appearance of the 2012âÂÂ13 season on 14 August in a 3âÂÂ0 win against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup. He scored his first goal of the season a week later, with Swindon now in League One, in a 3âÂÂ0 win against Crawley Town. After scoring in a defeat to Preston North End, he then scored in back-to-back games in October, in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat to Crewe and a 4âÂÂ0 victory against Stevenage. In December 2012, he then scored twice in a 2âÂÂ0 win against Oldham Athletic, before scoring again in the following game, a 5âÂÂ0 win against Tranmere Rovers. He then scored his final goal of the season on 5 January 2013, in a 4âÂÂ0 win against Carlisle United. He helped Swindon to finish in the play-off positions, and played in the second leg of the semi-final against Brentford, which finished 3âÂÂ3, leaving the tie 4âÂÂ4 on aggregate, with Brentford then going on to win the penalty shoot-out 5âÂÂ4. He was then released by the club along with five other players, at the end of the season.
After training with the club for over two weeks, and scoring as a trialist in a 4âÂÂ0 win in a pre-season game against Guiseley De Vita signed for Bradford City on a one-year contract on 30 July 2013.
He made his debut on 3 August on the opening day of the season in a 2âÂÂ2 draw against Bristol City, and assisted Rory McArdle's later equaliser. He scored his first goal for the club on 26 October, opening the scoring in a 2âÂÂ1 defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers. However, De Vita's first team opportunities were soon limited, due to a thigh injury that kept him out for months. After months on the sidelines, De Vita made his first team return on 11 April 2014, coming on as a substitute for Matthew Dolan in the 77th minute, in a 0âÂÂ0 draw against Rotherham United.
After making twenty-three appearances and scoring once in all competitions by the end of the 2013âÂÂ14 season, De Vita's contract with the club expired and he was invited back for pre-season training in the hope of earning a new deal. However, it was made clear that De Vita would not return to Bradford City following the conclusion of the club's pre-season friendly matches.
De Vita joined Cheltenham Town on a three-month contract on 25 September 2014. De Vita made his Cheltenham Town debut two days later, coming on as a substitute for John Marquis in the 83rd minute, in a 1âÂÂ0 loss against Burton Albion on 27 September 2014.
After making thirteen appearances for the club during the first half of the season, De Vita was released by the club after the expiry of his contract in late-December.
On 30 January 2015, De Vita signed for Scottish Premiership club Ross County. On his debut for the club, he scored the winning goal in a 3âÂÂ2 victory over Motherwell on 14 February 2015. Seven days later he scored again, this time against Partick Thistle at Firhill, as the Staggies secured a 3âÂÂ1 away victory. On 12 April 2015, De Vita was named as SPFL Player of the Month for March 2015.
With his impressive displays helping Ross County avoid relegation, De Vita signed a new contract in May 2015, keeping him at the club until 2017. He scored his first goal of the 2016âÂÂ17 season in a League Cup match, as Ross County thrashed Falkirk 7âÂÂ0 on 22 September 2015. On 30 June 2016, De Vita was released by Ross County, despite his contract still having a year left.
After being without a club for four months, De Vita signed on for his second spell with Scottish League One side Livingston in October 2016.
De Vita joined Scottish Championship club Partick Thistle on a season long Loan for the 2019/20 season. De Vita scored his first goal for Thistle in a 3-2 league defeat away to Morton. De Vita scored his second goal for the Jags in a 2âÂÂ0 win at home to Welsh side Connah Quay Nomands in the Scottish Challenge Cup. Livingston recalled De Vita from his loan spell on New Year's Day 2020. The same day Falkirk announced they had signed him on loan until the end of the season; a season which ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He was loaned to Edinburgh City in October 2020. De vita was released by Livingston at the end of the 2020âÂÂ21 season.
De Vita signed for Anagni in 2022.
Livingston
Swindon Town
Ross County
Individual