 He made his Birmingham debut as a very late substitute on September 15, 2007 against Bolton Wanderers, and his first start on October 20, 2007 against Manchester City in place of the injured Johan Djourou.He returned to Lille following Birmingham's relegation at the end of the season.On June 23, 2008, Schmitz signed a three-year contract with Valenciennes, where he played for four years before returning to Brazil and signing for Atlético Paranaense.