A Premier League footballer has revealed how finding faith helped him cope with a series of injuries that kept him off the pitch for periods totalling more than three years.
Josh Dasilva, who plays for Brentford FC, suffered a hip injury in February 2021 that kept him out of the team for a year, and then a hamstring injury followed between August 2023 and January 2024.
Then, in February 2024, Dasilva suffered a serious knee injury while in training, and did not return to the team until the dying minutes of Brentford’s 3-0 victory over West Ham in May 2026. The crowd gave Dasilva a standing ovation and cheered his every touch of the ball.
Dasilva’s way back to fitness has been long and painful. He now says, “When you seek God honestly and diligently, you’ll find true peace. When I was in dark places, that’s what pulled me out.”
It was four months into rehabilitation, following his knee injury, that Dasilva made a choice that transformed his outlook and his life.
He recalls, “One of my closest friends invited me to church. He was going through his own situation as well. His dad had passed.
“I’d grown up in church but lost my way. My parents are strong believers. Whenever I went home and visited my parents, my mum would say, ‘Let’s pray quickly’ and sometimes it wasn’t so quickly!
“It’s such a blessing to have them because they laid the foundations. Even when I went away from the faith, those foundations were still there.”
Dasilva, a firm favourite with Brentford FC supporters, gave his testimony to Sam Marshall, deputy editor of the club’s matchday programme. It was the cover feature in the edition for Brentford’s opening match of the new season – a 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspurs, on Saturday August 22.
Returning to church made a major impact on Dasilva. He explains, “Since taking it seriously, my whole life has changed. I started going to church on Sundays, and now I go on Wednesdays as well. Faith has become a big part of my life and how I want to live my life.
“If it wasn’t for Christ, if it wasn’t for Jesus, I wouldn’t be here right now.
“What were the biggest things that helped me? Obviously, my family and friends and the club, but my faith has been number one.”
Dasilva was baptised in May 2025, and prayer and worship became part of his daily routine. He explains, “I always dedicate the first hour of the day to God. I pray and I read. It directs my day. Praying, being vulnerable. God knows everything so you can’t hide.
“Being honest. Stripping myself down and understanding who I am. There are some things I’ve had to learn, and there are some things I’ve had to unlearn. Prayer and worship have been the staples of my life.
“God is faithful. Regardless of my situation, whether I was able to play another game of football or not. I knew that God loved me regardless. I knew I would be fine.”
Although Dasilva is back training with the first team squad, he knows he will have to compete to get into the team that takes to the pitch. He says, “I’m not naïve. I don’t think I’m going to start every game, but I want to help as much as I can.”
Josh Dasilva is one of a growing number of Premier League footballers being open about their Christian faith. At Brentford, Brazilian international forward Igor Thiago, and Portuguese midfielder Fabio Carvahlo have also spoken publicly of their Christian commitment.
The ‘Ballers in God’ social media channel has more than 388,000 followers on Facebook alone, and features many high-profile players proclaiming their faith.
This summer’s World Cup saw many top players being open about their commitment to Christ. Christians from the England and France teams prayed together after the Third Place play-off match in July.
Rev Peter Crumpler is a Church of England minister in St Albans, Herts, UK and a life-long Brentford FC supporter.
