Rodrigo Ely (born 3 November 1993) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Spanish club UD AlmerÃÂa.
Rodrigo Ely is a youth product of Brazilian club, Grêmio, and joined Milan in 2012. He spent two years with the youth side before subsequent loan spells with several low tier Italian clubs.
On 24 July 2012, Ely joined Reggina on a season-long loan. On 16 July 2013, AC Milan confirmed that they had reached an agreement for the season-long loan of Ely to Varese.
On 21 July 2014, Ely joined Avellino on a free transfer.
After impressive performances with Avellino in the 2014âÂÂ15 season, Milan decided to bring him back to San Siro on 10 June 2015, where he signed new contract which will keep him at the club until 30 June 2019. Despite Ely being a free agent, Milan also paid an unknown party a â¬8 million fee.
He made his first Serie A game of the 2015âÂÂ16 season with Milan, in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat against Fiorentina, where he received two yellow cards, thus getting sent off.
On 30 January 2017, Ely joined La Liga club Deportivo Alavés on loan for the remainder of the season. He made his debut for the club on 11 March, replacing Ibai Gómez in a 2âÂÂ1 away win against Málaga CF.
On 17 April 2017, Ely scored his first goal in the main category, netting his team's second in a 2âÂÂ1 home win against Villarreal CF. On 21 July, he signed a permanent four-year deal with the Basque side.
On 2 September 2021, Ely signed a one-year deal with EFL Championship side Nottingham Forest as a free transfer. On 31 January 2022, it was announced that Forest and Ely had mutually agreed to terminate his contract at the club, without him having made an appearance.
On 7 March 2022, free agent Ely signed a three-month contract with UD AlmerÃÂa back in Spain, with an option for a further two years.
On 1 August 2023, Ely agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract with his first club Grêmio, pending on medical examinations. On 30 January 2026, he terminated his link with the club.
On 2 February 2026, Ely returned to AlmerÃÂa on a six-month contract.
Ely played for Italy at Under-19 and Under-20, but was called up by Alexandre Gallo to be a part of his Brazil Under-23 squad, which was preparing to compete at Rio 2016.
Grêmio