Born in Póvoa de Varzim, Alves played youth football with three clubs, finishing his development with Rio Ave FC.

In late January 2011, Alves was recalled by his parent club,[3] making his Primeira Liga debut on 6 February by playing the last five minutes – and nearly scoring from a free kick – of a 1–0 away loss against FC Porto, which he had previously represented as a youth.

[5] However, the following month, in the last day of the summer transfer window, he moved teams – and countries – again, joining a host of compatriots at Beşiktaş JK,[6] including manager Carlos Carvalhal.

[9] Alves then returned to Rio Ave, but a registration error meant that neither he nor Ângelo Meneses could take part in Nuno Espírito Santo's team.

He had paternal Brazilian ancestry, his father Washington Geraldo Dias Alves having played ten years of his career in Portugal – mainly with Varzim – where his children were born.