Former Manchester City, Everton and Galatasaray centre-forward Jo – who earned 20 international caps for Brazil throughout his career – has been arrested for the fourth time over unpaid child maintenance fees. Jo was detained at a barbecue in his homeland of Brazil on Tuesday with the 38-year-old reportedly in debt of an eye-catching £31,500.
Joao Alves de Assis Silva, commonly known as Jo, played for an array of teams across the globe between 2003, when he made his senior debut for Corinthians, and when he hung up his boots in the summer of 2025. His collection of clubs include the aforementioned trio, Al-Shabab in Saudi Arabia and Russian side CSKA Moscow.
Linked to outstanding child support payments, Jo was arrested while attending a barbecue at a street food kiosk in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, recently. Following his arrest, the ex-striker was then taken to the 16a DP in Barra da Tijuca and taken into custody on November 18 – but this is not the first time the 20-cap Brazil international has been in trouble.
|
Jo’s Statistics for Manchester City and Everton |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Club |
Games |
Goals |
Assists |
Yellow/Red Cards |
|
Manchester City |
42 |
6 |
5 |
0/0 |
|
Everton |
36 |
7 |
3 |
0/0 |
Ex-Manchester City Striker Jo Arrested Over Unpaid Child Maintenance
According to a report from The Mirror, a warrant for the father-of-eight’s arrest was linked to a 2024 process involving unpaid child maintenance and the debt stated in the court order totalled R$220,744.57 – which equates to around the £31,500 mark. Jo was detained twice in Campinas and once in Contagem over the same issue last year.
Despite attempts by Jo’s legal team to challenge the ruling, authorities claim the order has remained active. As is the case with all legal disputes involving minors have been handled through the appropriate avenues – through family court procedures. Elsewhere, the press have stressed the legally sensitive aspect of Jo’s case.
The ex-City man’s former partner, Maiara Quiderolly, pulled no punches when commenting on his arrest last year. Although reports are unaware of whether his debt is related to her son, Joan Gabriel, she said: “I chose a s*** father for my son.
“I can’t receive the pension correctly, when he pays on the right day, he pays in different amounts, so I can’t receive it correctly. The only thing set by law, he doesn’t do correctly! It’s always torture to get things, and always I’m considered wrong.”
Reports have revealed this is his fourth arrest relating to unpaid maintenance and back in 2024, while he was playing for lower-league outfit Amazonas FC, he was hauled off the team bus and arrested after refusing to pay child support. Jo, as reported, has eight children – with six of those being out of wedlock.
Soon after he was arrested recently, Artur Eugenio Matias – Jo’s lawyer – spoke out to insist the debt has already been settled and that steps were being taken towards a swift conclusion to the case. “There was an arrest warrant issued in a city in the state of Bahia, for a reasonably small debt.
“According to the lawyer handling the case, the debt has been paid. Tomorrow this debt, without any doubt, will be paid, and we hope that he will be released,” he continued, though it has not been confirmed whether the sum of money has actually been paid by Jo, who is widely regarded as one of the worst strikers in Premier League history.
Jo, in the infancy of his career, piqued the interest of several Premier League clubs – and it was City, under the guidance of Mark Hughes at the time – who won the race for his signature. He played two seasons in the English top flight, the second on loan at Everton, and then returned to South America to play for Internacional and then Atletico Mineiro.
All statistics per Transfermarkt – correct as of 18/11/2025
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