Aderlan scored his first senior goal on 20 September 2009, netting the game's only through a penalty in an away success over Queimadense [pt], for the year's Copa Paraíba; in that competition, the club used a "B-team".[4] In March 2011, after being sparingly used, he moved to Joinville,[5] but never played a single match for the club.
In late 2011, Aderlan returned to his native state and joined Treze for the Copa Paraíba. The following January, he was loaned to Itapipoca,[6] but returned to his parent club for the 2012 Série C, and was sold to an unnamed group of investors in October 2012.[7]
On 10 January 2013, Aderlan agreed to a contract with Corinthians Alagoano.[8] A regular starter, he was loaned to CSA for the 2013 Série D,[9] but only featured in one match before having his federative rights assigned to Santa Rita, after the club merged with Corinthians for the 2014 season.
Académica
Aderlan moved abroad for the first time in his career on 4 June 2014, after agreeing to a two-year loan deal with Portuguese Primeira Liga side Académica de Coimbra.[10] He made his debut abroad on 14 September, starting in a 1–0 away loss against Boavista FC,[11] and scored his first goal on 2 November in a 1–1 home draw against SC Braga.[12]
Luverdense
On 14 December 2016, Aderlan was announced at Luverdense in the second division.[13] Initially a backup, he became a regular starter during the year's Série B, contributing with one goal in 32 appearances.
América Mineiro
On 10 January 2018, Aderlan signed for América Mineiro, still owned by Santa Rita.[14] He made his top tier debut on 14 May, starting in a 2–2 away draw against Ceará, and finished the season as a first-choice as his team suffered relegation.
On 4 January 2021, Aderlan signed a new deal with Braga until May.[17] He further extended his link until December 2022 on 5 April,[18] and finished the campaign as a starter ahead of Weverton.
On 4 May 2022, still a first-choice, Aderlan agreed to a contract extension with Bragantino until December 2024.[19] In the 2023 season, however, he lost his starting spot to Andrés Hurtado.
Santos
On 27 December 2023, Aderlan was announced at Santos on a one-year contract.[20] He made his debut for the club the following 20 January, starting in a 1–0 away win over Botafogo-SP.[21]
A regular starter during the 2024 Campeonato Paulista, Aderlan subsequently lost his starting spot to youth graduate JP Chermont before suffering a knee injury in July which sidelined him for the remainder of the year.[22]
