Born in Singen, Germany, to Portuguese parents, Cédric Soares moved to Portugal as a toddler and came through the youth academy at Sporting CP. He made his Primeira Liga debut in May 2011 and went on to make 93 competitive appearances for the club, winning the Taça de Portugal in 2014–15 before earning a move to Southampton in the summer of 2015.
At Southampton, Cédric established himself as a reliable right-back in the Premier League over four seasons, scoring his first goal for the club in the FA Cup against Wigan Athletic in March 2018. A brief loan spell at Inter Milan followed in January 2019 before he joined Arsenal on loan in January 2020, sealing a permanent transfer that June. He marked his Arsenal debut on 1 July 2020 by coming off the bench against Norwich City and scoring with a 20-yard left-foot strike just four minutes after entering the pitch. He also converted a penalty in Arsenal's Community Shield shoot-out win over Liverpool later that summer.
A composed and industrious full-back comfortable on either flank, Cédric is capable of contributing in attack without neglecting his defensive duties.
On the international stage, he earned his senior Portugal debut in October 2014 and went on to collect 34 caps. His most significant honour came at UEFA Euro 2016, where he started from the round of 16 onward as Portugal lifted the trophy.
In January 2025, Cédric signed with Brazilian club São Paulo FC, giving him a new chapter after departing Arsenal at the end of his contract in June 2024.