Born in Guarujá, São Paulo, Diego Gonçalves played for AA Ponte Preta and Fluminense FC's youth systems, after starting it out at seven-a-side football with Gamma Esportes and AE Barra Funda.
[2] Diego Gonçalves made his professional debut on 17 August 2013, starting in a 0–2 away loss against Vitória S.C. in the Primeira Liga.
[3] He was regularly used under manager Abel Xavier, but after the arrival of Paulo Alves, he lost his starting spot and rescinded his link on 27 November.
On 5 January 2015 Diego Gonçalves signed for Portuguesa, freshly relegated to Série C.[7] He made his debut for the club on 1 February, starting and scoring the first in a 3–2 away win against Ponte Preta for the Campeonato Paulista championship.
[9] On 11 July 2016, however, he was released,[10] and subsequently joined Internacional; initially assigned to the B-team, he was promoted to the main squad on 8 October by manager Celso Roth.