Born in Campos Belos, Goiás, Laionel started playing football with two local clubs, lowly Vila Nova Futebol Clube and Grêmio Esportivo Inhumense.
After Boavista's demotion due to irregularities, Laionel stayed in the country, signing with another modest side in the Primeira Liga, Vitória de Setúbal, for the 2008–09 campaign.
Laionel was loaned to Spain's UD Salamanca in summer 2009, with the Segunda División club retaining a €175.000 buying option at the season's close.
[1] As the Castile and León team barely avoided relegation he did not manage to score in the league, appearing in less than half of the matches.
In early July 2010, Laionel returned to Portugal, being loaned to Académica de Coimbra from Grémio Anápolis (formerly Inhumense), in a season-long move.